Handoffs and transitions in critical care (HATRICC): protocol for a mixed methods study of operating room to intensive care unit handoffs

Table 1 Study ICU characteristics

	Study unit
Characteristic	Study unit 1	Study unit 2
Surgical specialties represented	General, oncologic, orthopedic, otorhinolaryngologic, plastic, transplant, trauma, urologic, vascular	Cardiac, general, orthopedic, vascular
Beds	24	16
ICU model	Semi-closed*
Clinicians	• Registered nurses	• Registered nurses
	• Attending physicians: ICU, surgery	• Attending physicians: ICU, surgery
	• Fellows: ICU, surgery	• Fellows: cardiac surgery
	• Residents: anesthesia, ICU, surgery	• Residents: anesthesia, ICU, surgery
	• Advanced practitioners: nurse practitioner	• Advanced practitioners: physician assistants, certified registered nurse anesthetists
Patient demographics	50% white, 49% black, 1% Asian, 9% other

*“Semi-closed” indicates that each patient in the study units has two care provider teams – one surgical team and one intensive care unit team. Other models include “open” units where patients have just a surgical care provider team and “closed” units where patients have just an ICU provider team.

ISSN: 1471-2482