Our goal is to provide total care to the critically ill patient with complex needs.
Care is rendered by a professional staff of registered nurses working closely with the physicians to meet the needs of the patients along with Nursing Care Technicians
The patient's family members are considered significant participants in care
These nursing units provide care and treatment continuously, 24 hours a day throughout the year
Each unit does self-scheduling, with a scheduling committee providing guidelines and needed changes under the direction of the patient care manager
Critical Care Services Administrative Council: group composed of all the critical care Patient Care Managers that collectively functions as the director of Critical Care Services
Critical Care Services Council: group composed of a staff nurse from each of the critical care units, making decisions regarding nursing practice and other issues that affect the staff nurse
Critical care nurse requirements:
ICU knowledge, as demonstrated by 84% score on Basic Knowledge Assessment Tool (BKAT) #6, or
CCRN Certification, or
Demonstration of knowledge and competency, as measured by successful completion of the eight-week high acuity course including all written tests and demonstration of skill competence with knowledge integration by the completion of clinical preceptorship
Successful completion of ACLS within 18 months of employment and updated every two years
Burn Unit
Care for patients of all ages who have sustained burn injuries.
Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit Care for adult patients who have had cardiothoracic or transplant surgery (heart and/or lung) requiring frequent monitoring and observation, specialized diagnostic treatments and specialized intensive care nursing.
Common procedures in unit: intubation, bronchoscopy, endoscopy, tracheotomy, and pulmonary artery catheterization.
Cardiothoracic Step-Down Unit Care for adult patients who have had any type of cardiothoracic surgery that are hemodynamically stable transferred from the intensive care unit, and pre-operative candidates for the above surgeries including those on cardiac ventricular-assist devices awaiting heart transplantation.
Clinical Decision Unit Care for adult patients from areas that need decompression of their population that will enhance patient throughput for the hospital/enterprise.
Coronary Care Unit Care for adult patients with cardiac conditions identified as critical, including but not limited to acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, cardiomyopathy, severe dysrhythmias, cardiac arrest, and cardiogenic shock requiring frequent hemodynamic monitoring, specialized diagnostic treatments, frequent observations, and specialized intensive care nursing.
Intensive Care Step-Down Unit Care for adult patients that are hemodynamically stable who can benefit from close supervision and monitoring, such as frequent pulmonary toilet, vital signs, and/or neurological and neurovascular checks. Staff work closely with family members who are encouraged to be active in the patient’s plan of care to expedite transfer to an acute care bed or rehabilitation center as appropriate.
Medical Intensive Care Unit Care for adult patients with illnesses such as diabetic ketoacidosis, gastrointestinal bleeding, drug overdose, respiratory failure, esophageal varices, sepsis; requiring frequent observation, specialized monitoring and medical treatment, and intensive specialized nursing care.
Common procedures in unit: intubation, bronchoscopy, endoscopy, pulmonary artery catheterization.
Neurosurgery Intensive Care Unit Care for adult patients with complex neurosurgical problems and trauma requiring frequent observation, critical monitoring and medical treatment, and intensive specialized nursing care.
Common procedures in unit: intubation, bronchoscopy, endoscopy, tracheotomy, continuous EEG monitoring, placement of ICP catheters, and pulmonary artery catheterization.
Surgical Intensive Care Unit Care for adult patients with multiple injuries and complex surgical procedures that require frequent observation, specialized monitoring and medical treatment, and intensive specialized nursing care.
Common procedures in unit: intubation, bronchoscopy, endoscopy, liver biopsy, tracheotomy, and pulmonary artery catheterization.
Telemetry Care for adult medical-surgical patients requiring cardiac monitoring with the majority of patients having a cardiac diagnosis, along with heart and lung transplant patients that have been transferred from the intensive care unit.
Trauma Intensive Care Unit Care for adult patients with multiple trauma injuries and complex surgical procedures that require frequent observation, specialized monitoring and medical treatment, and intensive specialized nursing care.
This unit admits patients directly transported by the Air Medical Service and is a mainstay for the Level 1 Trauma Center.
Common procedures in unit: intubation, bronchoscopy, endoscopy, tracheotomy, and pulmonary artery catheterization
Emergency and Trauma Services
The UK HealthCare Emergency Department (ED) is a Level 1 Trauma Center with approximately 40,000 patient visits a year. We serve Fayette and the surrounding counties and have a large referral population from Eastern Kentucky. The ED is an important component of the Emergency/Trauma services, which includes UK Air Medical Services and Neonatal Ground Transport Services.
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Our goal is to provide total care to the critically ill patient with complex needs.