Areas Covered by Critical Care Medicine |
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1. SICU --- Patients are admitted into this 42-bed unit directly from the operating room, emergency room, floor, and from outlying hospitals. These patients represent the sickest patients in the hospital, and are probably the sickest patients found in any other intensive care unit in the United States. Our average length of stay is approximately 5 days and our mortality rate averages 4-5%. Nursing coverage is excellent and is usually 1:1, or at most 2:1.
2. IMC --- This 36 bed unit admits patients transferred from the SICU, as well as direct admissions after various operative procedures, such as peripheral vascular surgery, ENT surgical procedures, and craniotomies for tumor removal. Patients who deteriorate on the floor may also be admitted to the IMC. Two ICU teams round on this unit, comprised of faculty, resident, and PA / ARNPs.
3. Burn ICU --- This 8 bed unit houses severe burns. The CCM service participates in the care of patients who have acute burns with cardiovascular compromise or respiratory distress. We generally consult on 2 to 4 patients in the Burn ICU.
4. Hyperbaric Chamber --- The hyperbaric chamber treats 10-20
patients per year for diving related injuries, 10-20 patients per year for
carbon monoxide poisoning, and approximately 100 per year for non-healing
wounds. The CCM service is responsible for the HB chamber, particularly for
those patients with acute problems such as decompression sickness or air
embolism.
