Intensive care units in Croatia: results of the questionnaire study

The aim of the study was to form the Register of intensive care units (ICUS) in Croatia and to examine their present organizational and medical practices associated with outcome performances. Demographic, hospital, ICU structure and organization, patient demographic, available equipment, admission, discharge and outcome data were collected by census questionnaires and analyzed. This report should be viewed as the initial step in the effort to improve both the information base available on intensive care medicine and the performance of ICUs. Our survey findings (voluntary participation of all Croatian ICUs (123), a total of 117 ICUs or 95.1% responded) provide an introduction into the everyday working of ICUs throughout Croatia. While there are similarities between Croatian ICUs, large differences still remain, especially between teaching and nonteaching hospitals. It is important to identify our needs, problems, and posibilities. The major task of the Croatian Society of Intensive Care Medicine (CSICM) is to create a more uniform intensive care system which will result in an effective and efficient patient care with the most important policy - patient centered unit.