Intensive Care and Step-down Unit
To make an appointment
patients must be referred by a physician.
The Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre (UHC) has three critical care units that provide specialized care to patients at risk of complications after surgery, whether this is due to heart disease or another health problem.
What to expect while you are in hospital
While you are in intensive care, several health care practitioners will visit you, including your attending physician, the internist, your nurse and the patient care attendant. The physiotherapist or respiratory therapist might also visit you as needed.
The nurse might ask your family to go and wait in the visitors’ lounge while you receive the care you need or during any other procedure. When this is finished, a nurse will go and get your family.
When your health condition has improved, you might be transferred to another nursing unit or be discharged to return home.
Visits
Visits are permitted at any time, but we strongly encourage you to respect rest times, between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. At night, only family members or care partners are allowed.
A quiet environment helps patients recover.
The number of visitors and the visiting time may be reduced to promote the rest and recovery of the patient.
Visitors must practise hand hygiene and follow infection prevention measures.
Visits may be limited to protect patients and visitors and to prevent the spread of infections.
Access to intensive care units
Visitors must ring the bell, identify themselves and wait for us to open the door for them.
Please note:
- Maximum of two visitors at a time;
- Minimize noise;
- Respect rest time at night, between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.;
- Ask a nurse for permission before entering a patient’s room;
- Ask the care team to advise you on the best visiting plan to promote the patient’s recovery;
- If possible, do not visit before 10 a.m. to give the physicians and nurses time to provide the morning care and plan the day effectively;
- Limit visits to 15 minutes per hour to avoid exhausting the patient;
- Respect requests from nurses so that they can provide care to the patient;
- Do not bring children 12 years and under to the intensive care unit (exceptions can be made);
- No disruptive behaviour will be tolerated. Security will manage problem situations as needed and escort any visitor displaying disruptive or inappropriate behaviour to the exit.
Visitors’ lounge
A lounge is provided for visitors. It has:
- A large room with a TV
- A kitchenette with a refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker and small kitchen items. Coffee and tea pods are provided.
- A shower
- Washrooms
A quiet room is also available for those who want to stay close to the patient overnight or to have some privacy. To use the room, ask the staff if it is available.
Spiritual Care
The patient and their loved ones have access to a spiritual care practitioner at any time during the hospital stay. Ask the nurse to set up a meeting if you want to speak to a spiritual care practitioner.
The team
The team has several members who all play a key role in caring for the patient:
- Physicians
- Nurses
- Patient care attendants
- Respiratory therapists
- Physiotherapists
- Occupational therapists
- Dietitians
- Pharmacists
- Spiritual care practitioners
- Housekeeping staff
- Administrative staff
Contact
Medical/Surgical Intensive Care 506-862-4147
Coronary Intensive Care 506-862-4139
Step-down Care 506-862-4139
- You may call for an update on the patient at any time, but between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. is preferred if you want to speak to a physician;
- Designate one member of the family to call and then convey the information to all the other family members. This prevents the unit from being inundated with calls.
- If possible, call after 10 a.m. The nurse and the physician will have established the plan for the day and will have more information to share.
