Final answer:
To decrease the number of IHCAs, controlled hypothermia can be used post-arrest to reduce heart damage by slowing metabolic rate, and checklists in ICUs can prevent infections, reducing ICU stays. Additionally, CDC strategies aim to lower cardiovascular disease risk factors.
Step-by-step explanation:
Decreasing In-Hospital Cardiac Arrests (IHCAs):
To decrease the number of in-hospital cardiac arrests (IHCAs), a multifaceted approach is required. One medical intervention used is controlled hypothermia, which involves reducing a patient's body temperature to around 91 degrees following a cardiac arrest. This technique is aimed at preserving cardiac function by slowing the metabolic rate, which, in turn, reduces the heart's workload and the necessity for high blood flow to organs. Doing so may improve recovery outcomes and reduce the likelihood of subsequent cardiac arrests. Additionally the implementation of checklists in intensive care units (ICUs) has been shown to reduce infection rates resulting in shorter ICU stays and improved patient survival rates, which can indirectly reduce the occurrence of IHCAs.
Evidence-based practices such as these, along with adherence to guidelines provided by health authorities like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), form the core of strategies to effectively reduce IHCAs in healthcare settings. According to the CDC there are various strategies to lower the prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors that can contribute to a lower incidence of IHCAs. Focusing on prevention, identifying at-risk patients early, and intervening appropriately are critical components of decreasing the occurrence of in-hospital cardiac arrests.