SMSH-HOSPITAL DEPARTMENTS-HC QUESTIONS AN ANSWERS

intensive care unit (ICU) - aka intensive therapy unit or intensive treatment unit (ITU) or critical care unit (CCU) intensive care unit (ICU) - cater to patients with severe and life-threatening illnesses and injuries, which require constant, close monitoring and support from specialist equipment and medications in order to ensure normal bodily functions. They are staffed by highly trained doctors and nurses who specialize in caring for critically ill patients. ICUs are also distinguished from normal hospital wards by a higher staff-to-patient ratio and access to advanced medical resources and equipment that is not routinely available elsewhere. Common conditions that are treated within ICUs include ARDS, trauma, multiple organ failure and sepsis. intensive care unit (ICU) - severe acute distress, ventilators, unstable patients, unstable hemodynamics Post- Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU/Recovery Room) - Post operative patients are sent here after surgery for recovery/awaiting an inpatient bed. PACU provides immediate post-op observation and stabilisation of patients following surgical operations and anesthesia. emergency department (ED) - aka accident & emergency department (A&E), emergency room (ER), emergency ward (EW) or casualty department emergency department (ED) - acute care of patients who present without prior appointment; either by their own means or by that of an ambulance. Due to the unplanned nature of patient attendance, the department must provide initial treatment for a broad spectrum of illnesses and injuries, some of which may be life-threatening and require immediate attention. Telemetry - cardiac floor where patients are hooked up to a portable cardiac monitored which is watched 24/7 Oncology - A floor where the majority of the patients are cancer patients and may be receiving chemotherapy/radiation, etcOrthopedics - majority of patients are orthopedic patients that are most likely post-op Surgical - a floor where the majority of the patients have just had surgery or will most likely have surgery soon Neuro - a floor where the majority of the patients have neurological disorders such as CVA, Sub Arachnoid Bleed, etc Neuro ICU - a critical care floor where severly unstable neuro patients are held MS (Med/Surg) - general medical floor Labor/Delivery (L&D) - a unit usually designated as a critical care/surgical unit where women deliver children Antepartum - a unit for pregnant women who need to be closely monitored (preterm labor, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes) Neonatal ICU (NICU) - a critical care area for premature infants as well as sick full term infants Progressive care unit (PCU) aka InterMediate Care Unit (IMCU) - a step-down unit for patients that no longer need some of the care of a more critical unit but not ready to move to a regular surgical or med-surg unit Observation unit - a unit for short term stay patients with med surg problems that may/may not need surgical intervention. Kidney stones, chest pain (if testing r/o cardiac issues), blood transfusions for cancer patients that don't require hospitalization otherwise