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Evidence-based approach to intensive care unit management: need for improvement

Anders Ersson* and Michelle Chew

Author Affiliations

Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Entrance 42, Level 2, Malmö University Hospital, S-20505 Malmö, Sweden

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Critical Care 2008, 12:404 doi:10.1186/cc6763

Published: 25 January 2008

First paragraph (this article has no abstract)

We read with great interest the contribution by Strack van Schijndel and Burchardi [1]. The topic of intensive care unit (ICU) management deserves to be highlighted as it is a most complex task to undertake. In their paper, the authors refer to Covey's Seven Habits of Highly Effective People [2], but did not distinguish between leadership and management – two fundamentally different but not mutually exclusive concepts. To paraphrase Covey [2], 'Management is a bottom line focus: How do I best accomplish ...?' whereas 'Leadership deals with the top line: What do I want to accomplish ...?'