New intensive care unit research puts patients at the centre of recovery outcomes

Caboolture Hospital ICU focus group: Parker Michaels, Dr Mahesh Ramanan, Emma Williams, Nadine Kemp, Dr Prashanti Marella and Kirby Harwood.

Caboolture Hospital research is reshaping how recovery after critical illness is measured – placing the voices of patients, families and clinicians at the centre of intensive care unit (ICU) outcomes.

ICU staff specialist Dr Prashanti Marella is exploring ‘institution-free days as a new, patient-centred way to define survival after critical illness.

Funded by The Common Good, the study engaged ICU survivors, carers and clinicians from across the hospital to better understand the true impact of recovery beyond discharge.

The findings highlight that survival alone does not capture the ongoing physical, emotional and financial burden experienced by patients and families.

Both clinicians and consumers strongly supported institution-free days as a meaningful outcome that reflects time spent living independently, outside of healthcare settings.

“This research brings forward what truly matters to patients and families following ICU care,” Dr Marella said.

“It’s about understanding recovery in a way that reflects real-life experiences, not just clinical survival.

“By redefining how ICU outcomes are reported, this innovative study has the potential to influence future critical care research and improve how recovery is understood, measured and supported.”