Critical Care Units

ICU Care Team

You may see many staff members entering your loved one’s room. They all play an important role in delivering the highest standard of care to your loved one. This team includes the following but can include more as needed:

• Intensivists: Critical care physicians that provide comprehensive medical care to patients whose illnesses and or injuries require close monitoring.
• Hospitalists: Hospitalists are physicians whose primary professional focus is the general medical care of hospitalized patients. They may assume your plan of care in lieu of your established primary care physician. Please note that they may be utilized in our Cardiovascular Step Down Unit, should your loved one transition to the Intermediate level of care, and follow your care throughout your hospital stay. If you do not have an established primary care provider we will help to connect you with resources that may be able to assist with care and discharge needs.
• Registered Nurses: Provide care for your loved ones around the clock at bedside.
• Respiratory Therapists: Manage the patient’s breathing and oxygen requirements.
• Case Manager: Organize care and help assist in discharge planning.
• Nurse Techs: Assist the registered nurse in many aspects of patient care, such as taking temps, blood sugars, and providing patient hygiene.
• Pharmacists: Process medications ordered by the physician.
• Nutritionists: Assess and care for nutritional needs.
• Secretaries: Help coordinate communication between families, staff and visitors.

Interdisciplinary Team Rounds

Between 7-11 am, Interdisciplinary Team Rounds are conducted. During this time, the Critical Care team will go over the plan of care for your family member. We ask that only the Care Partner is present. This ensures communication is precise and consistent to provide the best care for your family member.

Visitation Guidelines

St. Francis Hospital staff works together with volunteers and visitors to make visitation productive for the healing of our patients. We strive to provide excellent care and support to you and your loved ones during their time of illness. We make every attempt to keep visitation open, but our patient care, safety and privacy may require occasional hold on visitation. Due to privacy laws, please remain in your loved one’s room while in ICU.

• No more than 2 visitors at the time
• When you come in or you leave, wash your hands or use the cleansing foam by the door.
• No eating or drinking in the patient rooms
• No photography in the ICU
• No fresh flowers
• Follow isolation procedures when asked
• Keep the noise level at a minimum to promote healing
• Please use the call bell in your loved one’s room for assistance
• Visiting may be limited or you may be asked to exit ICU due to certain procedures and emergencies.

Children

Children under the age of 12 are not permitted in the ICU and should be supervised by an adult if in they will be in the waiting room.

What To Expect

Not knowing what to expect is normal while visiting your loved ones in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). This brochure is designed to serve as a guide for you to understand what you can do while your loved one is in ICU. Your loved one may be connected to multiple tubes and wires. These are in place to monitor and treat the patient.

Your loved one may be connected to a ventilator, or “breathing machine”. This is a temporary machine that assists the patient with breathing. While a patient is on the ventilator, they will not be able to speak, eat, or drink because this machine passes through their vocal cords.

These machines and monitors can be very noisy. Please do not be alarmed by the beeps and noises. They are common sounds in the ICU.

Quiet Time

Patients need rest to heal. During Quiet Time, we ask that the patient have uninterrupted quiet rest. We will lower the lights and ask all but one visitor to step out, with no visitor exchanges. Doors to the ICU will be locked. During this time patient and staff interaction will be kept to a minimum to promote healing. Our quiet times are from 11 pm-4 am and 2-4 pm.

Take Care of Yourself

While your loved one is in ICU, take care of yourself by eating and getting plenty of rest. You, the Care Partner, will be relied upon as an active member of the Care Team. Taking care of yourself will enable you to better understand, listen, and participate in the care of your loved one.

Pastoral Care / Chaplain Services

Chaplains are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for you or your loved one’s spiritual or emotional needs. To request a chaplain, dial “0” from any hospital phone and advise the operator where a chaplain is needed. If needed, a member of the Care Team can assist you.