Critical care units such as ICUs are high-tech units to care for patients with severe and potentially life threatening conditions that require constant and close monitoring. However, these units are also associated with a busy, noisy, tech-oriented environment. Research has shown that high noise levels and inadequate lighting are common in ICUs and may increase the risk for transitioning to delirium. Delirium is the most common brain dysfunction in the ICU and occurs in 30 to 80 percent of patients [1]. ICU delirium is associated with long-term cognitive impairment [2] and is estimated to cost USD 145 billion annually in the United States alone [3].

Non-pharmacological factors such as enhanced lighting, noise reduction that support the circadian rhythm and patient sleep are thought to have a beneficial impact on delirium. The research collaboration between Philips and Charité will investigate a comprehensive set of delirium management concepts, including circadian-effective lighting to restore circadian rhythm. Specifically, the partnership seeks to:

• Acquire deep knowledge and insights to prevent delirium by non-pharmacological means;
• Develop solutions for transforming the patient environment in critical care and preventing or lessening delirium and its harmful effects;
• Create enhanced ICU workflows as well as patient-relative and staff interaction protocols to better support cognitive and mental recovery of critical care patients;
• Increase delirium awareness throughout the global health care community and move the critical care transformation forward.

"Charité is one of the largest university hospitals in Europe and a globally respected, visionary organization working on the frontline of the critical care innovation," said Carla Kriwet, CEO Philips Patient Care and Monitoring Solutions (PCMS). "With the launch of this deep, multi-year collaboration, we’re able to collaborate with this great organization while continuing to build on our clinical and technology expertise and develop innovative, non-pharmacological solutions for critical care environments with the potential to make a difference for millions of lives."

In addition, Philips endows a professorship at Charité, which will be set up by the non-profit, Stifterverband [4].

"The new professorship will advance ground-breaking research into how the ICU environment impacts patients and how improvements to that environment and to patient-relative and staff interactions can prevent or ameliorate delirium," said Professor Claudia Spies, Head of the Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine at Charité Berlin. "Having a research-oriented industry partner like Philips gives us the opportunity to translate discoveries into solutions more quickly for the benefit of patients and for the effort to better allocate health care resources."

Delirium can increase length of stay in hospitals by five to 10 days [5], cause secondary illness or injury and put additional mental/physical stress on patients [6]. Although there is increasing awareness of delirium, it is commonly undetected and options for treatment are limited [7]. Delirium dramatically impacts both patient outcomes and hospital costs. It doubles ICU mortality and triples six-month mortality [8], and may contribute to inefficient ICU resource allocations [9].

Philips is a leader in critical care and offers a comprehensive portfolio of therapeutic care solutions, as well as patient monitoring solutions ranging from bedside monitors to wearable patient monitors, combined with clinical decision support tools and mobile applications to provide immediate access to actionable information.

Related news articles:

• Philips Healthcare's Profile

About Royal Philips
Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a diversified health and well-being company, focused on improving people’s lives through meaningful innovation in the areas of Healthcare, Consumer Lifestyle and Lighting. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips posted 2014 sales of EUR 21.4 billion and employs approximately 106,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. The company is a leader in cardiac care, acute care and home healthcare, energy efficient lighting solutions and new lighting applications, as well as male shaving and grooming and oral healthcare.

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4. http://www.stifterverband.info/ueber_den_stifterverband/english/index.html
5. Luetz A. et al., Crit Care Med, 2010, 38(2):409-18
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8. Ouimet S. et al., Intensive Care Med, 2007, 33(1):66-73
9. Pearse R.M. et al., Lancet, 2012, 380(9847):1059-65