Children die, families suffer, society pays as we await this inefficient and slow transfer of knowledge-based information to all intensivists. This educational paradigm is repeated in pediatric critical care units for nurses, medical students, pediatric residents, respiratory therapists, nurse practitioners, surgical residents and a host of other people who depend upon the critical care physicians and intensive care unit for education concerning the care of critically ill children. All of this effort is repeated in dozens of units throughout the country, with varying standards and with tremendous duplication of effort and energy and expense. The third purpose of intensive care units is research. Not only basic science research, but also clinically applicable outcomes based research.
Basic science is needed to lay the foundations for the care of tomorrow.
Clinical outcome research is necessary to apply todays knowledge to the care of todays children. Economic pressures, and the demands of critically ill children will further restrict basic and clinical scientific research. The effort in this direction must be optimized and shared to assure future improved outcomes for critically ill children. Improving the quality of care requires shared research. Clinical research is central to the progress of clinical medicine.