Dr. Mikita Fuchita Program
Mikita Fuchita, MD
Assistant Professor, Anesthesiology
Dr. Fuchita's Colorado Profile's Page
Education
MD, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
Internship, Kawasaki Municipal Kawasaki Hospital, Kawasaki, Japan
Residency, Anesthesiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
Fellowship, Critical Care Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO
Fellowship, Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO
Fellowship, Clinical Research, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO
Graduate Certificate, Innovation and Implementation Science, IU Center for Health Innovation & Implementation Science, Indianapolis, IN
Research Interests
ICU Liberation and ABCDEF Bundle; Sedation Minimization and Early Mobilization; Delirium Prevention and Perioperative Brain Health; Sleep and Circadian Health; Agile Science; Organizational Culture and Team Dynamics; Clinical Trials and Patient-Centered Outcomes; Quality Improvement and Implementation Science; Survey Research; Wearable Technology and Electronic Health Record Research
Research Description
My research focuses on improving outcomes for critically ill patients through the implementation of evidence-based practices, particularly sedation minimization and early mobilization. My current NIH-funded research investigates how organizational culture, team dynamics, and healthcare professionals' beliefs and behaviors influence the adoption and sustainability of sedation minimization practices across ICUs.
My broader research interests include preventing postoperative delirium, promoting sleep and circadian health, and improving recovery after critical illness. I have expertise in conducting clinical trials, observational studies, and quality improvement initiatives to evaluate pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions. Drawing on Agile Science, I aim to develop tools, processes, and strategies that are effective, scalable, and sustainable in solving real-world problems in complex healthcare environments.
Our team at the University of Colorado developed the Sedation Off, Awake, Rehabilitate (SOAR) program to advance ICU Liberation practices and promote a culture of minimal sedation and early mobilization. Our work has been featured in:
- Hospital Evaluates RASS to Improve Sedation Approach. Society of Critical Care Medicine Blog, March 2026.
- SOAR Program Reduces Sedation for Patients in the Cardiothoracic ICU. CU Department of Surgery, October 2024.
- Ready to Roll: Team Effort Bucks Sedation Trend. CU Anschutz Medical Campus Newsroom, August 2023.
- SOAR: Sedation Off Awake and Rehabilitate. Walking Home from the ICU (podcast), June 2023.
- Innovation SOAR in the CTICU. IHQSE Newsroom, February 2023.
Funding for my research includes the National Institutes of Health (NIGMS, NHLBI), Clin-STAR, and University of Colorado Institute for Healthcare Quality, Safety and Efficiency (IHQSE).