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Intensive Care Unit
The Intensive Care Unit at Southwest Memorial Hospital is a 6-bed unit, 2 of which are transitional care beds. The ICU, as it is called, combines advanced technology with specialized nursing and medical care to provide intensive care for critically ill and potentially critically ill patients. Each of the four ICU beds is equipped with Hewlett-Packard monitors to provide invasive and non-invasive cardiopulmonary monitoring of patients. The 2 step-down beds are used for patients who require closer monitoring than can be provided on the regular floor but are not critically ill.
Why is a patient admitted to ICU?
Patients are admitted to ICU because they need intensive nursing and medical care. The seriousness of a patients condition is usually life threatening or potentially life threatening. The nurse-to-patient ratio is normally 1 nurse to 1 to 2 patients.
Can ICU patients receive visitors and have flowers?
Visitors and family play an important part in the healing and well being of patients. There are no specific visiting hours, however visiting is discouraged between 6-7am in the morning and 6-7pm in the evening when staff are changing shift. Visitors are limited to 2 at a time and children 12 and under are allowed in only at the discretion of the nursing staff.
Visitors with infections are not allowed in the ICU. During certain procedures and in special instances the nursing staff may close visiting for a given time period.
Cards and notes are encouraged. Live plants and flowers are not allowed because they have the potential of harboring bacteria or pollens which may cause a delay in the healing process. Space is limited, and patient care requirements must come first.
Patient Confidentiality
By law and hospital policy information concerning the patient’s condition can only be released by nurses to immediate family members because of patient confidentiality requirements. In instances of a large family it is suggested that a spokesperson be chosen to make inquiries and update the other family members and friends. This allows nurses to use their time to provide the care required by their loved one and ensure more consistency of reporting to the family.
Information cannot be given to media sources, such as newspapers, radio and TV. As a person is admitted, they are asked to stipulate whether or not the fact they were admitted and discharged may be given to the newspaper after their discharge. Names are only released to the newspaper with patient/family permission to do so.
Staff
While technology is an advantage the greatest asset is the staff of the Intensive/Critical Unit. Janet Knisley, R.N., TNCC and Liz Sellers, R.N., BSN, CEN, share management responsibilities for the department. Knisley is considered the clinical support nurse and is responsible for nursing orientation, mentorship, monitoring clinical skills, staffing, day-to-day problem solving and also functions as a staff nurse. Palmer handles administrative functions including committee representation, policy development, oversees the clinical competency, hiring of nurses, budgeting, quality improvement activities and is also functions as an emergency room staff nurse. The entire staff is dedicated to treating the patient as if they are family. Unlike patient care in other hospital units, the ICU nurses provide total patient care in the Intensive Care Unit – which includes charting, bathing, feeding, medication administration and monitoring of the patient who needs "closer observation." The staff works as a team with Social Services, Respiratory therapy, Dietary, Physicians and other hospital departments to administer not only patient care but provide assistance to family members.
Phone: 970.564.2260
Fax: 970.564.2151
e-mail: icumgr@swhealth.org
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1311 N. Mildred Rd. • Cortez, Co, 81321
Main Hospital: 970-565-6666 • Emergency Room: 970-564-2025
