After an overwhelming infection sent O’Burke into five-organ failure, he also developed ICU delirium, perhaps related to heavy sedation.

An ICU protocol developed at Vanderbilt University Medical Center found that getting him on his feet sooner was key to speeding his recovery.

If you are one of the 5.7 million Americans who ends up in the intensive care unit each year, you are at high risk of developing long-term mental effects like dementia and confusion.

These mental problems can be as pronounced as those experienced by people with Alzheimer’s disease or a traumatic brain injury and many patients never fully recover.

But research shows you are less likely to suffer those effects if the doctors and nurses follow a procedure that’s gaining ground in ICUs nationwide.

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