How does Post-ICU work?

The Post-ICU diary helps patients understand their ICU stay, improving mental health and benefiting hospitals with better outcomes and reduced readmissions.

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1. Implementation and Training

Partnered hospitals go through an implementation process guided by our experts. Any technical or legal concerns will be addressed. After completing all the steps, there will be a (online) presentation for professional caregivers. We explain how they can inform patients and family members about Post-ICU, and provide you with the necessary materials.

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2. Keeping the Diary for the Patient

The professional caregiver hands the envelope to the patient or their legal guardian. Inside, there is a personal diary code which can be used to create the digital diary. The diary is then used to record the developments and events.

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3. Family and ICU Caregivers Contribute

Others can be invited to participate in writing in the digital diary. With their contributions, the patient gains an even more comprehensive understanding of their hospitalization. The act of journaling is also healing for the family and other loved ones.

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4. Upon returning Home

After an intense physical recovery period, it is time to start healing emotionally. Most of that recovery takes place at home. The filled diary provides support in the recovery process of both patient and family. The structure of the diary also helps the patient to gain a better understanding of the ICU period.

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“We’re able to look back at all of the previous journal entries, just to kind of see what other caregivers have written in the journal. Honestly, it’s nice for staff too because they are able to see the progress that the patient has made through their ICU journey as well."

Ashley D’Agostino-Petutti, Critical Care NurseGriffin Hospital

“The Post-ICU diary has had a positive reception at Griffin. It’s been rewarding not only for patients and for their family, but actually for staff. The journaling in Post-ICU also decreases the incidence of PTSD, as well as PICS and its accompanying disorder, PICS-Family.”

Dr. Marya ChaissonCritical care pulmonologist at Griffin Hospital in Derby

"The digital diary in the intensive care is a fantastic tool for quickly intensifying communication with the patient and their family, so that we can better understand who the patient is."

Ad van Overdijk, ICU nurseSaint Anna Hospital

“I’ve become an experienced expert as a family member. Post-ICU was very valuable and user-friendly to use.”

AnonymousPost-ICU User

Secure and private log-in portal

Post-ICU uses a sophisticated and highly secure log-in portal. Numerous safeguards are in place to ensure that a diary is only accessible to the right people. Some hospitals are eligible for a Single-Sign-On (SSO) service. This can enhance the experience with the digital diary for healthcare professionals. Please inquire with us to discuss the possibilities.

Writing together is easier than ever

Invite multiple writers and readers to one diary. No matter where, no matter when. Post-ICU is available and up to date 24/7. Inviting someone to your Post-ICU diary is as easy as clicking a button. Having more than one person write in the diary ensures that the patient can later review what happened to them from multiple perspectives. Please inquire with us to discuss the possibilities.

Managing multiple diaries is no problem

As an ICU professional, you will likely have multiple diaries to manage. Post-ICU offers an intuitive interface and simple diary overview. Find the diary that you want to write for in a second. And when it’s time to close a patient’s diary, it’s easy to remove a diary from your list as well. Please inquire with us to discuss the possibilities.

Writing prompts

Never wonder about what you can write about again. Post-ICU offers many writing suggestions to help you. There are separate writing prompts available for family members, friends and healthcare professionals. Our digital diary will even offer you different writing suggestions depending on the situation of the ICU patient. Please inquire with us to discuss the possibilities.

It's true: a picture speaks louder than words

Photos add another layer to a diary. It provides the patient and family members a more complete story that they can relate to. As a patient, or their legal guardian, you can arrange permissions for uploading pictures. Would you like nurses to be able to upload pictures? Arrange it with a click. Please inquire with us to discuss the possibilities.

Everything that you want to be private, stays private

The patient is always the owner of their digital diary. If they (temporarily) are unable to manage their diary, their legal guardian takes over. They can arrange permissions for reading diary entries. Not comfortable with ICU personnel reading your entries? Then switch it off with ease. We do recommend enabling healthcare workers to read entries, as we have seen this benefits communication and engagement tremendously. Please inquire with us to discuss the possibilities.

The Post-ICU Diary is here for...

Update the family, support the patient's recovery

Professional caregivers contribute to the ICU patient’s diary. They can write entries and leave photos. This increases the ICU caregivers’ job satisfaction by fostering communication between them and family members. Read more about the value of Post-ICU for professional caregivers.

Better patient and family experience, better health outcomes

Hospitals that hand out the Post-ICU digital diary are providing a better patient and family experience. Better patient experience, in turn, has been shown to increase healthcare outcomes and reduce re-admissions to the ICU. Read more about the value of Post-ICU for hospitals.

Healing power of journaling

The patient’s loved ones will experience more calmness and a sense of control when they can write in the Post-ICU diary. After ICU discharge, the patient can see and read what exactly has happened. This helps with Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) and Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSS) symptoms. Read more about the value of Post-ICU for patients and families.