Sometimes patients who need hospital care, require an additional level of care that exceeds standard inpatient care. This is known as intensive care. An intensive care unit (ICU) is for patients who are critically ill or injured and require highly specialized care. Examples of such conditions include head injuries, organ failure, respiratory distress, sepsis, and other critical conditions.
The ICU Team
Intensive care units deliver a very high degree of specialized care, close monitoring, and individual attention. They are run by highly trained, patient-centered ICU team members and can include physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, physical therapists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, registered dietitians, and physician assistants. An ICU ensures patients receive care that is tailored to their individual needs by staff who has specialized training and years of hands-on experience in the field.
Conditions An ICU Treats
Patients in an ICU require critical care due to medically complex conditions caused by diseases or injuries that may be exacerbated by additional medical problems. Conditions can include:
- Severe Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Complex medical conditions that may involve multiple affected organs (heart, kidney, lungs, brain, intestines)
- Cardiac conditions such as heart attack and congestive heart failure
- Diabetes-related conditions and complications
- Gastrointestinal diseases
- Post-operative complications
- Surgical recuperation
- Sepsis or other life-threatening infections
- Stroke
- Trauma Injuries
- Vascular disease
- Stage III and IV wounds
Treatment And Care
ICU patients have severe or life-threatening illnesses and injuries, which require constant care and supervision and often rely on life support equipment and medication to keep the body functioning. They require comprehensive medical and nursing care – sometimes for an extended period of time. ICUs have a much lower staff-to-patient ratio to ensure patients receive the close monitoring and intensive support they need. Patients are often admitted directly from an emergency room or may come from a hospital ward by physician referral if their health rapidly deteriorates. Some patients may also be admitted following invasive surgery or if they are at high risk of health complications.
An intensive critical care team performs life-saving care for seriously ill patients who typically have multiple health problems. Individual treatment programs are developed for each patient and are designed to restore health and quality of life. ICU treatment can include a ventilator, wound care, cardiac care, intravenous (IV) therapy, antibiotics, neurological/post-trauma care, pulmonary management, and low-tolerance rehabilitation. Treatment can also be tailored for patients with complex medical needs due to conditions such as cancer, malnutrition, infectious diseases, MRSA, neurological diseases, and pulmonary conditions requiring specialized care, such as dependency on a ventilator, BiPAP machine, or heated high flow.
Intensive Critical Care Services In Sherman, Texas
At Carrus Health, we specialize in the care of critically and seriously ill patients who require continued hospitalization and medical management. Our 33-bed long-term acute care facility is specially designed to meet the complex healthcare needs of critically ill patients. Our intensive critical care team, which includes the finest, most experienced physicians in the region, routinely saves lives and helps seriously ill patients back to health.
Regardless of the type of care your loved one needs, everything we do at Carrus is designed to optimize patient healing and recovery while creating a warm and nurturing experience for patients and their families. We aim to deliver family-focused discharge planning, with the goal to discharge patients to their home or to a less intensive medical environment.
If you or a loved one requires specialized care, choose Carrus, where our doctors and professional staff treat you like family. If you would like more information about our inpatient medical care or any of our other services, call us today at (903) 870-2600. We welcome your call and look forward to serving you.
