Critical care services at Southwest General include a Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) and the Elisabeth Severance Prentiss Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU). Both units offer patients the latest in technology and nursing care. While a patient is in MICU or SICU, he/she is automatically listed as in serious condition with the hospital operator and information desk.
When a patient is in either MICU or SICU, one family member is designated as spokesperson to call and obtain updated condition reports. The spokesperson can then relay information to other family members. Spokespersons are established to help maintain the patient’s rights to privacy and to reduce staff time on the phone, allowing more time to be spent at the patient’s bedside.
The MICU is a 10-bed unit with visiting hours from 10 to 11 a.m. and 6 to 7 p.m.
The SICU, also a 10-bed unit, is conveniently located adjacent to the Surgery Pavilion, and provides immediate post-surgical care specifically for patients who have undergone major surgery. Visiting hours are from 10 to 11 a.m. and 6 to 7 p.m.
Additionally, medical and surgical intensivists are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to see patients in MICU and SICU.
While cards and small pictures are welcome in the MICU and SICU, health center policy prohibits flowers in these two units.