Abstract
Futile care in critical care settings creates ethical dilemmas and places emotional, physical, and financial burdens on patients and healthcare systems. The BRIDGE-ICU algorithm was developed to address these challenges by aligning ICU interventions with patient prognosis and goals-of-care early in the ICU admission process. This quality improvement project, conducted in a 12-bed medical ICU, aimed to reduce the incidence of non-beneficial care through interdisciplinary collaboration and early structured conversations. Patients flagged for potentially futile care were identified by the interdisciplinary care team based on clinical indicators and prognosis. Data collected over two months showed a significant 22.69% reduction in patients receiving futile interventions post-implementation (p = 0.045). The BRIDGE-ICU algorithm promotes early goals-of-care discussions centered on prognosis and functional outcomes, ensuring that care aligns with patient values while enhancing resource efficiency. This project demonstrates the value of practical, outcome-driven approaches in ICU settings, offering a reproducible model for critical care teams aiming to reduce non-beneficial treatments. Implications for the nursing profession include a stronger emphasis on interdisciplinary communication, ethical care delivery, and improving patient-centered outcomes.
Sigma Membership
Mu
Type
Poster
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Quality Improvement
Research Approach
Translational Research/Evidence-based Practice
Keywords:
Acute care, Instrument and Tool Development, Interprofessional, Interdisciplinary, Critical Care Burdens
Recommended Citation
Frankovitch, Bryan; Bott, Kristin; Elwell, Joy; and Montano, Anna-Rae, "BRIDGE-ICU: A Novel Approach to Reducing Futile Care Through Early Goal Alignment in Critical Care" (2025). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 34.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2025/posters_2025/34
Conference Name
36th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Seattle, Washington, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
BRIDGE-ICU: A Novel Approach to Reducing Futile Care Through Early Goal Alignment in Critical Care
Seattle, Washington, USA
Futile care in critical care settings creates ethical dilemmas and places emotional, physical, and financial burdens on patients and healthcare systems. The BRIDGE-ICU algorithm was developed to address these challenges by aligning ICU interventions with patient prognosis and goals-of-care early in the ICU admission process. This quality improvement project, conducted in a 12-bed medical ICU, aimed to reduce the incidence of non-beneficial care through interdisciplinary collaboration and early structured conversations. Patients flagged for potentially futile care were identified by the interdisciplinary care team based on clinical indicators and prognosis. Data collected over two months showed a significant 22.69% reduction in patients receiving futile interventions post-implementation (p = 0.045). The BRIDGE-ICU algorithm promotes early goals-of-care discussions centered on prognosis and functional outcomes, ensuring that care aligns with patient values while enhancing resource efficiency. This project demonstrates the value of practical, outcome-driven approaches in ICU settings, offering a reproducible model for critical care teams aiming to reduce non-beneficial treatments. Implications for the nursing profession include a stronger emphasis on interdisciplinary communication, ethical care delivery, and improving patient-centered outcomes.
Description
The novel BRIDGE-ICU algorithm, developed to reduce futile care, aligns ICU interventions with patient prognosis and goals through early interdisciplinary conversations. A 22.69% reduction in non-beneficial interventions was achieved, demonstrating the algorithm’s effectiveness in critical care. Structured goals-of-care discussions, focusing on functional goals and quality-of-life, enhance ethical decision-making and improve patient outcomes.