Outstanding care, always.

The critical care program encompasses a 21-bed intensive care unit (ICU) that provides acute care services for adult and pediatric patients facing life-threatening illness or injury. Patients are admitted to the ICU from other areas of the hospital, other hospitals in our region and occasionally from hospitals in other provinces or countries. Care is provided by a multidisciplinary team made up of intensivists, residents, registered nurses, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, social workers, dietitians, physiotherapists, spiritual care providers and volunteers.

Members of the ICU Team

• Intensivists are physicians with additional training in critical care and another medical specialty such as surgery, internal medicine, respirology, anesthesia, emergency medicine or pediatrics. All patients are seen and their care is fully reviewed by an intensivist daily. Bedside rounds are held twice daily that are attended by the intensivist and include many different disciplines. The primary admitting physician works in collaboration with the intensivists to assure continuity of care as the patient is transferred from ICU to other units within the hospital or other hospitals. The intensivist has an important role in prescribing treatments and medical therapies and knowing their effect on all organ systems.


• Physicians in training(Residents) are an integral part of the ICU. The ICU at KGH is the primary site for the training program in Critical Care Medicine which is accredited by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and administered through Queen’s University.. Under the direction of the Intensivist, the residents lead patient care rounds and oversee patient care including procedures, and consultations.


• Registered Nurses in ICU have education in Critical Care and most have a certificate in this specialty or are tested and certified by the Canadian Nurses association. Their expertise includes the ability to provide complete patient care and interpret information from many sources in order to identify early signs of small but significant changes in the patient condition. RN’s have a large role in communicating to assure all professionals involved in care are up-to-date on the patient progress. The close relationship with patients often lead to RN’s having a role as patient advocate and are integral to the decision-making process of the ICU team including the patient and their family.


• Respiratory therapists have education and expertise in overseeing and adjusting ventilators (breathing machines). Airway management and interpretation of specific blood tests provide valuable information for patient care management.


• Pharmacists have in-depth knowledge of complex medication regimens. Drugs are reviewed to understand the benefits and effects on the patient. Advice is provided regarding drug selection, monitoring and levels. Education is provided to members of the health care team and patients.


• Social Workers help maintain equilibrium in the ICU by facilitating communication with staff and families and by offering professional assistance to families and patients in times of crisis. Integral to the role of social work is assessment of psychosocial and environmental components of care. As a follow-up to assessment the ICU Social Worker may provide a full range of counseling services. The ICU Social Worker may be a resource for locating or identifying patients' next of kin, substitute decision maker or Power of Attorney. The ICU Social Worker can also be involved in end of life decision-making and organ donation as a support and facilitator to both families and staff


• The Dietitian works with the team to assure that nutritional health needs are met in this patient population. Extensive research has been done in this ICU relating to the specific requirements of nutrition for the Critically ill patient. The Dietitian has played a large role in the education of the multi disciplinary team relating to this issue.


• The Physio Therapist provides services to restore function, improve mobility or limit permanent physical disabilities.


• The Spiritual Care Provider supports patients and family in crisis.


• The Volunteers are an integral part of the ICU team. These generous people bring families into the ICU, provide visitors with comfort and information and will help locate families for conferences.
  

Education

Learners from many disciplines of health care, including all of those listed above, are integrated into the ICU. There are structured programs for all of our learners to ensure a safe environment for the learners and our patients.

Research

Research is strength within the ICU. There is a research team with a medical Director. Research RN’s participate in rounds and education of staff. All research is coordinated through a unit specific process and there is an on-call RN 24 hours a day. There are many research questions being addressed in the ICU every day.