Critical Care
About the research group
Patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) are critically ill and require intensive care. Most ICU patients need mechanical ventilation to support their breathing. While this intervention saves many lives, it also carries risks. Those who remain on ventilation for extended periods are particularly vulnerable to adverse effects. How can we provide the best possible care for this fragile group of patients? The research group also focuses on two other key themes within ICU care: high workload and sustainability.
Research objectives
1. Researching Care Innovation
Developing and testing new technologies, such as automated ventilation, to enhance both care quality and reduce the workload of healthcare professionals.
2. Improving Nursing Interventions
Evaluating existing and new airway management interventions to ensure that only effective, safe, and evidence-based treatments are applied.
3. Reducing Workload
Designing new tools and processes to help reduce the workload for ICU staff, particularly through more efficient care models and technologies. This enables healthcare professionals to work more efficiently and with less stress.
4. Promoting Sustainability
The ICU department has a significant ecological footprint, mainly due to the intensive use of equipment and disposable materials. The research group aims to make airway management more sustainable by reducing plastic use and choosing environmentally friendly materials, without compromising care quality.
Collaborative partners
The Critical Care research group collaborates closely with various ICU departments across the Netherlands. Research is conducted both within Dutch ICUs and through international partnerships with other research institutions. Additionally, researchers work with patient representatives to incorporate the perspectives of patients and their families into care improvements. The research group focuses on practice-oriented interventions, testing and evaluating innovative methods directly in daily care practices. Based on research findings, care processes are improved, always prioritising patient safety, well-being, and the work experience of healthcare professionals.
Circular care and AI
The research group also collaborates with other HvA research groups, focusing on themes such as circular care and artificial intelligence (AI). These partnerships explore innovative solutions for more sustainable care models, such as material reuse and waste reduction in ICUs. AI is playing an increasingly prominent role in healthcare, and the research group investigates its applications in automating processes like ventilation and enhancing clinical decision-making. This interdisciplinary collaboration drives innovation and ensures that ICU care is prepared for the future.
Connecting education
The goal is to introduce students to the latest innovations and developments in healthcare. This means they gain not only theoretical knowledge but also practical experience by participating in ongoing research projects in intensive care and nursing care. By closely linking research and education, students are trained to become healthcare professionals who are well-equipped to handle future challenges and technologies.