We want your experience with the ICU to be as positive as it can be. Every day in the morning, the interdisciplinary team meets for “rounds.” This is when the team visits the patient’s bedside to discuss the plan of care. Decisions involving all team members are made at this time. We welcome your presence and participation as a member of rounds. When a patient improves and no longer requires continuous monitoring, he or she may be transferred to a step down unit, a regular ward, or a hospital closer to home where care is provided at an intermediate level.

Visiting in the ICU is flexible. However, you may be asked to wait a little while before going to see your loved one when a patient first arrives to the ICU, when the patient is resting, or when the nursing shift changes — at 7:30 each morning and evening. Before visiting, please call, give your name, and the name of the patient you are visiting. The phones located in the waiting room and just outside the door leading to the ICU ring directly through to the unit clerk.

Children are welcome to visit. It is a good idea to tell them in advance what to expect and answer any questions they might have. Please inform the interdisciplinary team if you are planning to bring children to the ICU. We can provide guidance as well as material to help children with the experience.

Occasionally, such as when infection control measures are increased, there are restrictions on the number of visitors. Whenever possible, we will notify you in advance of these changes.

WHO CAN I TALK TO IF I HAVE QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS?

Ongoing communication between patients, families, and the critical care team is important. We encourage you to ask questions and share your concerns.

Sometimes, we may arrange family meetings to discuss the patient’s plan of care and to give you the opportunity to have your questions answered. It is helpful if you designate a family member as a spokesperson. This person can be a valuable “communication link” between the family and the health care team.

Please feel free to call us at 416-586-4800 ext. 4610 at any time, even when you are away from the hospital, if you are concerned about your family member or have questions.

WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP MY LOVED ONE?

Your caring and support are a vital part of your loved one’s care. Some of the things you may want to do to help are:

• Visit – short but frequent visits are often the best way to offer comfort.
• Feel free to speak words of encouragement and support, even if your loved one is sedated or unable to speak. Offer reassurance about things that may be on their mind – for example, how children or the family pet are doing.
• If your loved one is awake but has a breathing (ET) tube, he or she will not be able to speak. Communicate by asking questions that require only “yes” or “no” answers or by using a pen and paper or pictures.
• Hold your loved one’s hand or touch their face. Your presence alone shows you care.
• Bring some personal items from home such as family photos or toiletries (but please leave valuables at home).
• Remember to take time to take care of yourself.

 

Who are the health professionals taking care of my loved one?

Physicians
There are four physicians on the ICU team. They are called intensivists and are specialists in intensive care. They rotate on a weekly basis and can be reached 24 hours a day. The Director of the ICU is responsible for the overall medical care of patients.

We frequently consult with specialists such as cardiologists (heart specialists), nephrologists (kidney specialists), and hematologists (specialists in blood diseases) in order to ensure the best possible care.

Registered Nurses
All the nurses in the ICU are specially trained to provide close monitoring and patient treatments. Each nurse is assigned direct care of one or two patients to allow for very close monitoring.

Some nurses also have specific responsibilities within the unit:

• The Charge Nurse is responsible for the day-to-day running of the unit.
• The Nursing Unit Administrator (NUA) is responsible for administrative duties.
• The Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) is available to support clinical practice and nursing research.

The NUA and CNS are also available for consultation on matters to do with patient and family care and nursing practice.

Respiratory Therapists
Respiratory therapists (RTs) manage ventilators (respirators) — machines that help patients breathe. They are trained to ensure patients receive the appropriate amount of oxygen therapy and support from the ventilator. There are two RTs in the ICU on each shift.

Pharmacist
A pharmacist who specializes in critical care assists the team in selecting the best medications for patients and provides ongoing consultation and educational support to physicians and nurses.

Dietitian
During a critical illness, the body has additional nutritional requirements and may require tube feeding. The dietitian assists the team in deciding the best nutritional plan for the patient and provides ongoing consultation to the nurses.

Physiotherapist
The physiotherapist works with the ICU team and provides ongoing consultation to nurses regarding ways to maintain lung function and physical mobility. This may include helping patients with breathing and coughing techniques to clear secretions from the chest and airway or assisting with exercises to prevent problems that sometimes occur because of immobility.

Social Worker
Having a loved one in the ICU can be very stressful. A social worker is available Monday to Friday to talk with you about your concerns and to connect you with community resources if needed. If you would like, any member of the health team can refer you.

Chaplain
One of the hospital’s chaplains is assigned to the ICU. Working with other hospital chaplains and community-based representatives of many different denominations, the ICU chaplain will assist patients and their families in seeking the pastoral care they wish. You are welcome to share your preferences and any cultural and religious practices that help us understand your and your loved one’s needs.

Research Coordinators
Research coordinators conduct research in the ICU on an ongoing basis. You may be approached for consent to have your family member enrolled in a research study designed to discover ways to improve care. There is no obligation to participate and patient care will not be affected by your decision.

Unit Clerks
Unit clerks work with charge nurses to ensure a smooth-functioning unit. They answer the phones, file information in the patient’s chart, and organize some supplies.

Service Assistants
Service assistants are available to help the nurses transport patients to and from tests outside the ICU. They are also responsible for cleaning patient rooms and the general areas around the ICU and for running errands such as bringing blood samples to the laboratory.

Trainees
Mount Sinai Hospital is a teaching centre. Health professionals in training from all disciplines participate in the care of the patient under the supervision of the different team members.

 

Patients are admitted to the ICU because they require close observation and specialized care. Some patients and families know in advance that they will come to the ICU and, at other times, the admission is unexpected. Immediately upon arrival, it is most important for the staff to work together to stabilize the patient. We appreciate that waiting is extremely difficult and are committed to meeting with you at the earliest possible opportunity.

The ICU has a variety of equipment including monitors, ventilators, and dialysis machines. This equipment can be noisy and alarms may go off. The alarms are safety measures and do not necessarily mean the patient is in danger. We understand that this may be frightening for some family members. Please be assured that there is a nurse available at all times to respond.