Quality..Dedication..Innovation
FACILITY
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At Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center, we have four critical care units. They each have private rooms and one central nurses station.
- Intensive Care East: (ICE) Green
ICE consists of eight patient rooms. It is for patients who are having problems with breathing, bleeding, have just had major surgery, or other problems. Patients with heart problems may be placed here if CCU is full.
- Intensive Care East: (ICW) Blue
ICW consists of eight patient rooms. You may hear it called the "open-heart unit" because it is the only unit where "immediate post-operation" open-heart patients are placed. ICW is also for other surgical patients, "heart attack" patients, and others.
- Coronary Care Unit: (CCU) Red
CCU consists of eight patient rooms. It is for patients with heart problems such as "heart attack", "heart failure" (CHF) and irregular heart rhythms. It is also used for other patients if other units are full.
- Coronary Observation Unit: (COU) Yellow
COU consists of sixteen telemetry rooms. Telemetry means their heart rhythm is being monitored at the nurses station but there is no monitor in the room. COU is for patients who still need to be watched closely, but are improving. These patients may be able to walk in the hallway.
- Neuro Intensive Care Unit (NICU) – 2nd Floor, West Wing
STAFFBack to Top
The Critical Care team is compiled of specially trained staff who is defined as follows:
- Physicians
Each patient has a primary physician (the one who admitted the patient) and may have one or more specialists consulted.
- Registered Nurses (RN)
These nurses have special training for the particular needs of a critical care patient and on the operations of the medical equipment used to care for the patients. A nurse is present at all times to watch the monitors, give care and instant assistance to the patients. Nurses make rounds many times a day giving special care, taking pulse, blood pressure, and assessing lungs, heart, stomach an other important body functions. They also perform Electrocardiograms (EKGs) and draw blood for lab work.
- Patient Care Associates (Certified Nursing Assistants)
Patient Care Associates help nurses by checking vital signs, bathing patients, changing linen, answering call lights, transporting and assisting with procedures. They also perform EKGs and draw blood for lab work.
- Unit Secretaries
Unit Secretaries transcribe doctor orders, answer phones, and help nurses with errands and assist with visiting times.
- Receptionists
Receptionists assist family members and oversee the critical care lounge.
- Respiratory Therapists
Respiratory Therapists set-up oxygen, give special breathing treatments and make ventilator changes as ordered by the doctor.
- Special Needs Social Worker
If you need assistance with parking, prescriptions, or other needs, ask the receptionist or nurse to contact a social worker for you.
- Chaplains
Chaplains are available at any time. If you would like to talk with one, ask the receptionist or nurse to call them. We also have a chapel that you may visit at any time.
- Others
You may also encounter patient support associated, dietitians, pharmacists; case manager/coordinators and physical therapists in the critical care area.
VISITING HOURSBack to Top
| | CCU, ICU-West, NICU
9:15 am – 10:00 am
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
4:30 pm – 5:00 pm
9:00 pm – 10:00 pm
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COU
10:30 - 12:00 AM
2:30 - 3:30 PM
7:30 - 9:30 PM |
Immediate family only - friends and others are well meaning, but too many visitors can tire or over-stimulate the patient.
Only two immediate family members are allowed in a patient's room at one time; however, you may switch-out during the visit. Due to our rooms being small and equipment in use on the patient, space is limited. Also excessive visitors can tire the patient.
Visitors over the age of 14 only - children do not have a fully developed immune system and patients with illness have a compromised immune system. Due to the contagious diseases both children and patients can carry, we feel it is best not to expose children to this setting.
Pastors may visit as appropriate for about five minutes. Please limit to one pastor per patient.
Please try to visit promptly during the listed times. The nurses try to schedule patient care around visiting times, as much as possible.
Located outside the door of each (with the exception of COU) is a phone. Please use it before entering, even during the visiting times. This is to prevent you from walking in when there may be an emergency or tests being done.
If any patient is in an emergency situation, or the unit is VERY busy at visiting times, all visitors may be asked to wait.
Before you enter the patient's room for the first time, ask the doctor or nurse what to expect.
Let the patient know you are there. They may not be able to respond to you, or they may have had a lot of medication, but a familiar voice may be comforting to them.
Do not be afraid to touch the patient. Ask for help if you are worried about bothering the equipment.
Flowers can harbor germs in the dirt or water. Two or three small arrangements are allowed in COU. No flowers are allowed in ICE/ICW/CCU.
Ask the nurse before bringing food or snacks as the patient may be on a special diet or NPO (nothing to eat or drink).
Things you might want to bring for the patient:
Toothbrush / Toothpaste
Comb / Brush
Deodorant
Tissues
Shaving Cream
Lotion / Powder
Denture Care Items
Razor
OVERNIGHT VISITINGBack to Top
- COU
One person may stay in the patient's room. We have a chair in each room that folds into a bed. Please have it back in an upright position by 7:30 AM so that the hospital personnel may be able to get around in the room.
- All Other Units
No overnight stay is allowed in the patient's room. The nurses must check the patient at least every two hours and more often it the patient's condition needs closer observation. Due to the increase in activity in these units, we request that you stay in the Critical Care lounge.
- Critical Care Lounge
The lounge is located on 3 west. Two visitors per patient may stay overnight. Overnight passes must be obtained from the receptionists or the nurses station. They expire in 24 hours and a new one is to be obtained. Blankets, sheets and pillows are available; please place them in the dirty linen hamper by 7:30 AM. Showers are also available.
CONFIDENTIALITYBack to Top
Patient confidentiality has become a major legal issue that we all must deal with. No staff member at FSRMC is allowed to give patient information over the phone except for the following conditions:
- Fair or Good:
Blood pressure and heart rate are good; patient has orders to move to COU or out of critical care when a room is available.
- Serious:
Patient requires close observation after a procedure, is on special medications or possibly requires a breathing machine.
- Critical:
Patient requires special machines and/or medications to support blood pressure, heart rate or breathing.
- Grave:
Heart rate and blood pressure are no longer responding to "life support" (special machines and medications).
