| Critical Care
Services
The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is a specialized
area where patients with serious illness or medical problems are treated.
There are two intensive care units -- Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU)
and Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) -- and one step-down unit, the Intermediate
Care Unit (IMC).
Your loved one will receive personal care, attention and monitoring from
physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals with advanced, specialized
training using state-of-the-art medical equipment.
Inside the Critical Care Unit
The activity and unfamiliar equipment in the Critical Care areas may be overwhelming. The tubes, wires
and equipment help the healthcare team in providing the care needed for the patient. Some of the equipment
includes the following:
- IV (in vein) lines help provide nutrition and medications. The patient may have many IV lines in place.
Some of the IV lines may help monitor blood pressure and heart rate.
- Tubes help drain air or fluid from the body. The patient also may have many tubes in place for other
reasons.
- Monitors are used on all patients in the Critical Care areas. These help to check the patient's heart
pattern and rate, blood pressure, breathing, and other important vital signs. All monitors have alarms that
you will hear at times. These alarms are not always cause for concern. Sometimes simple patient movement can
make the alarm sound.
- Most patients in the Critical Care areas need extra oxygen. This is given in many ways including through
a mark, a breathing machine, a tracheostomy, or through the nose.
- A ventilator is a machine attached to a tube that helps a patient breathe. The tube may be in the mouth
or nose. The patient will be unable to talk with the ventilator attached.
- Special stockings, called compression devices, may be used on the patient's legs to help prevent blood
clots from forming after surgery.
- Other equipment may be at the bedside or attached to the patient. If you are concerned or have questions
about this equipment, the nurse can explain it to you.
- Some medications may cause sleepiness or confusion. You may ask the nurse about the reason for, and the
common side effects of, each medication the patient is receiving.
- All patients have the right to pain relief. While our goal is to get the most relief of pain that is
possible, some patients may not be able to be pain free. For patients who are not able to communicate, the
staff will look for signs of pain on an ongoing basis.For patients who are able to talk to us, we will need
to know the following information to help control their pain:
- Where the pain is located
- What it feels like -- sharp, stabbing, dull, etc.
- When it started
- How bad it feels on a scale from 0-10 with 10 being the worst pain ever had
- What usually makes the pain feel better
- What medications the patient has taken in the past.
Family and visitor information
- Two people at a time may visit.
- Visiting hours are designed to allow patients time to rest between visits and procedures.
- Small children may visit at the discretion of the nurse.
- When a patient is admitted to the ICU or IMC, it may take up to one hour (or longer) before visitors
are allowed. If your family member is admitted to the SICU located on the second floor, you can ask the
volunteer in the SICU waiting room to check on the status. Volunteers do not staff the waiting room after
5 pm or on weekends, but there is a phone in the waiting room to call into the unit.
- If your family member is admitted to the MICU or IMC located on the third floor, you can use the phone
in the waiting room to call into the units. You also can visit the nurses' station to ask any questions.
- Clergy may visit at any time.
- Pet visitation is offered.
Information
To reach the following areas, please call:
| SICU |
ext. 3270 |
| SICU Waiting Room |
ext. 3922 |
| MICU |
ext. 3370 |
| MICU/IMC Waiting Room |
ext. 3923 |
| IMC |
ext. 3350 |
|
