Better care for veterans after long stays in intensive care
Official title: IMPROving care for VEterans with Persistent Critical Illness (IMPROVE PerCI)
Funded at Veterans Health Administration · NIH-11188960 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will compare different hospital and follow-up care approaches to find what helps veterans who spend many days in the ICU and their caregivers have a better quality of life.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Veterans Health Administration NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2024 |
| Project end | September 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01HX003851-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11188960 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are Veterans (age 21+) who remain in an ICU for at least 11 days (persistently critically ill) and their caregivers, typically those receiving care within the VHA.
✕Less likely to help
People who are not VHA patients, had short ICU stays, or are outside the VHA system may not be eligible or see direct benefit from this project.
What this research studies
You would be part of a national effort focused on Veterans who remain in the ICU for at least 11 days and their caregivers. The team will use Veterans Health Administration data across inpatient and outpatient settings and follow survivors over time to measure quality of life and survivorship. Researchers will examine how differences in hospital and post-hospital care practices relate to patient and caregiver outcomes, and will collect patient-centered outcome measures. Findings will be used to identify care strategies that could be adopted across VHA sites to improve recovery and daily functioning.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to changes in hospital and follow-up care that improve quality of life and long-term recovery for veterans after prolonged ICU stays.
How similar studies have gone: This is the first national study focused on Veterans with persistent critical illness and their caregivers, while smaller or single-center studies have suggested approaches that might help but large-scale evidence is limited.
Where this research is happening
-
Veterans Health Administration
Ann Arbor, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Viglianti, Elizabeth Marie — Veterans Health Administration
- Study coordinator: Viglianti, Elizabeth Marie
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.