Intensive Care Foundation

The Intensive Care Foundation is a charity that is dedicated to improving the care of critically ill patients by raising funds for vital clinical research as well as educating health professionals responsible for intensive care.

The Foundation's overall aim is to improve the number and quality of lives saved within an Intensive Care Unit each year.

The critical role of Intensive Care Units

Every day, life-saving miracles are performed in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) across Australia and New Zealand. In any one-year over 143,000 people, including over 7,700 children are admitted to ICUs in Australia and New Zealand [Martin J, Warne C, Hart GK & Hicks P (2007) Intensive Care Resources & Activity: Australia & New Zealand 2005/2006. ANZICS, Melbourne] .

Over 86% of adults and 97% of children survive life threatening accidents or illnesses with the help of intensive care each year [ANZICS Adult Patient Database 2007] .

There are 181 ICUs, 155 in Australia and 26 in New Zealand. Of these, Australia has 8 specialised paediatric intensive care units (PICU) and New Zealand has 1 PICU. In addition to these intensive care units, there are a number of high dependency units [Martin J, Warne C, Hart GK & Hicks P (2007) Intensive Care Resources & Activity: Australia & New Zealand 2005/2006. ANZICS, Melbourne] .

Everyday Miracle Workers

Working in intensive care is all about saving lives. Every member of an Intensive Care Unit plays their part in performing life saving miracles every day. A typical Intensive Care Unit is made up of a variety of specialist doctors, nurses and researchers working together to provide around-the–clock care to each patient.

By supporting research into treatment and practice, we can ensure these highly skilled and well equipped teams are able to give more patients the best possible chance of recovery.

Who do Intensive Care Teams Treat?

Intensive Care Teams treat critically ill patients with:

* Major heart, lung or head problems, such as severe heart attack, pneumonia, asthma or stroke
* Injuries caused by road or industrial accidents, burns, falls or assault
* Major illnesses, such as organ failure or overwhelming infections
* Major or complicated abdominal, chest or head surgery
* Organ transplants – heart, lung, liver or bone marrow

Many babies and children require treatment in Intensive Care Units.

The need for research

Intensive care teams rely on the latest research to ensure they can give the best life saving treatment to their patients.
To date the Foundation has provided 52 grants to Australian and New Zealand research projects totalling more than $1.7 million since 1999. In 2007 almost a quarter of a million was granted.

Intensive Care Foundation Annual Appeal

Launched in 2000, the Intensive Care Appeal is a major fund-raising event held annually in Australia and New Zealand to create awareness and raise funds by selling wristbands and key tags – in 2008 a four-coloured pen with a safety pull-apart lanyard will be introduced.

The theme for the 2008 Appeal is “Keep the Beat” with rock legend Jimmy Barnes being the face of the Appeal. The Appeal will run from 14th to 27th of April with Intensive Care Day taking place on Friday 18th April. Intensive Care Day gives ICUs across Australia and New Zealand the chance to celebrate the miracle of intensive care, the theme for the day is Keep the Beat – Rock On!

The Appeal merchandise is sold in ANZ branches throughout Australia, Souvlakihut stores in Victoria, Jesters Pie stores throughout New Zealand and ICU’s across Australia and New Zealand. The Foundation also has support from volunteers who generously help out with the Appeal every year.

The Intensive Care Foundation

The Foundation aims to raise the awareness and profile of intensive care throughout the community, highlighting the miracle work that intensive care doctors, nurses and researchers perform as a part of their every day job.

The Intensive Care Foundation was formed by the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society (ANZICS) in 1990.

A legally independent charity with tax-exempt status, the Foundation operates in both Australia and New Zealand.

The Intensive Care Foundation has a fully constituted Board of Trustees consisting of senior medical and corporate members; a Sydney and Melbourne Corporate Committee and an independent Scientific Committee. The Corporate Committee members volunteer their time to provide invaluable advice and support to events, business and financial matters for the Foundation.

The Scientific Committee is headed by an Executive Team with representatives from the intensive care community. They are responsible for rigorously reviewing Research Grant Applications and advising the Board on the selection of research projects for funding.

Intensive Care Foundation Co-operative

The Intensive Care Foundation is proud to have a number of pharmaceutical and medical companies who support it financially. These companies understand the importance of the Foundation's mission - to fund live saving research in intensive care. Their financial support covers the majority of administrative costs which means that every public dollar donated goes towards Intensive Care Research.

Intensive Cooperative Members are:
* AstraZeneca

* Covidien (formerly known as Tyco Healthcare)

* CSL Bioplasma
* Eli Lilly
* Fisher & Paykel Healthcare
* Glaxo Smith Kline
* Mayo Healthcare
* Merck Sharp & Dohme
* Philips
* Wyeth
* Edwards Lifesciences
* Pharmatel Fresenius Kabi

References