Improving care for critically ill patients using a proven intervention strategy
Official title: Behavioral Economic and Staffing Strategies To Increase Adoption of the ABCDEF Bundle in the ICU (BEST-ICU)
Funded at University of Nebraska Medical Center · NIH-11064881 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is all about finding better ways to care for seriously ill patients in hospitals by using a special set of practices called the ABCDEF bundle, and it aims to make sure these practices are used more often, especially in hospitals that help underserved communities, so that patients can feel better both physically and mentally.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Nebraska Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Omaha, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $1,306,984 |
| NIH project number | 5UH3HL165740-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11064881 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are critically ill adults, particularly those from populations facing health disparities.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not critically ill or those who do not require intensive care may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing the care of critically ill patients by implementing the ABCDEF bundle, a set of evidence-based practices designed to improve outcomes in intensive care units (ICUs). The project aims to identify and overcome barriers to the adoption of this bundle through behavioral economic strategies and collaboration with healthcare teams. By working with community partners and healthcare systems, the research seeks to develop sustainable methods for increasing the delivery of these essential practices, particularly in hospitals serving disadvantaged populations. Patients may benefit from improved physical, mental, and cognitive health outcomes as a result of better care delivery.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to significant improvements in the health and recovery of critically ill patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that implementing structured care bundles can improve patient outcomes, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Balas, Michele Christina — University of Nebraska Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Balas, Michele Christina
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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.