Guidelines on admission and discharge for adult intermediate care units

Abstract

To present guidelines for writing admission and discharge policies for adult intermediate care units. Opinion of practitioners with experience and expertise in managing critical and intermediate care units. Consensus was reached regarding the characteristics of patients best suited for management in an intermediate care unit, as supported by a literature review. Criteria were developed that define patients who are optimal candidates for management in an intermediate care unit. (Crit Care Med 1998; 26:607-610)