What is Critical Care?
The Critical care unit comprises of the High dependency and Intensive care unit. These units may be combined in some hospitals or be separate. Critical care unit is a specialised unit found in the hospital for persons with life threatening conditions that require close observation and invasive treatment.
Patients in ICU receive 24 hour round the clock monitoring and life support from highly trained team of specialists including Doctors, Nurses, Physiotherapists, Pharmacists, Respiratory therapists, Speech and Language therapists, Occupational health therapists, Dieticians, Microbiologists, Technicians, Outreach team and healthcare support workers.
Why people are cared for in the ICU and what to expect
Persons can be admitted following:
1. A planned or emergency major surgery
2. Complication from a severe infection e.g sepsis
3. Acute conditions such as Heart attack, Stroke
4. Chronic illness
5. A serious accident resulting in e.g. head injury, severe burns
It can be frightening when your loved one is admitted to ICU, so please take care of yourself by eating well and getting adequate rest. Also, it can be a challenging period in one’s life to be admitted in the unfamiliar environment of the ICU.
ICU patients can be connected to various machines with the most common being a heart monitor and an artificial breathing machine. These machines beep and alarm to alert staff to changes of a patient’s condition and does not necessarily mean something is wrong. For example it can be an alarm to change over a finished medication. Also, there are likely to be lines, tubes, wires and other equipment attached to the patient
Visiting critical care
Each hospital has a visitor policy. Visiting hours are usually flexible so get in touch with the particular unit. While it is important to rest as a critically ill patient, visiting is encouraged. Visitors are usually restricted to immediate family.
Do not visit if you are feeling unwell. Infection control is important in ICU so please adhere to guidance you are given by ICU staff. The staff would advise you on how to use the hand gels, washing your hands, and wearing protective equipment as necessary. Also, you may not be allowed to bring in certain gifts such as flowers.
Your loved one may look different. It can be upsetting to see the patient in ICU due to change in body features from swelling or bruises, with the various lines, tubes and machines that may be connected, but staff would be there to help you feel comfortable. Your visit may be interrupted by necessary treatments or examinations. You can ask staff questions to help you get some understanding.
It is important to speak with your loved one. It helps to speak and touch your loved one in ICU even if they are “sleeping” (due to drugs that are administered in ICU). Family presence and hearing family talk can help orientate ICU patients and reduce the incidence of Delirium (which can be a complication of being admitted in the ICU).
The Intensive Care Unit Support Teams for Ex-ICU patients ICU STEPS is a charitable UK Support group for ICU patients and their relatives.
Following discharge from ICU
Patients may be moved to another ward when they are no longer in need of close monitoring and advanced treatment measures. Once a person is well enough on the ward to go home, they would be discharged home. Also, the ICU team would contact them for follow up care which is communicated via phone or mail correspondence.