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Frequently Asked Questions

Why must I sometimes wait before I can see my family member in the Intensive Care Unit?

There are many reasons why you may have to wait to visit your family member, including:

• The nurse is busy providing care for the patient;
• The nurse is busy helping with another patient, therefore because of privacy reasons, you will need to wait;
• Procedures or tests are being done at the bedside;
• The patient is away at a test;
• The patient is resting.

Should I bring my children into the ICU?

Generally, children 12 and over may visit; however, exceptions can be made for special circumstances. Because it can be frightening for small children to see a loved one in the Intensive Care Unit, we must prepare them in advance.

It is best for young children to receive counseling and age-appropriate information from our Social Worker, spiritual care staff and the RN before and after a visit to the Intensive Care Unit.

Children are to be accompanied at all times by an adult in the Intensive Care Unit and in the waiting room.

When can I talk to the doctor?

There are several opportunities to discuss matters with the doctors. The doctors are not usually available during clinical rounds (9:00 a.m. - 12:00 pm ; 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.) The bedside nurses can answer many of your questions and will pass on questions or concerns to the doctors and help arrange for you to meet.

There is always a senior resident available in the Intensive Care Unit. Frequently, a Critical Care Fellow (junior staff), is available for discussions from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Please remember that there are over 24 patients in the Intensive Care Unit, so daily meetings are not always possible. However, the physicians at all levels, along with the excellent bedside nurses, will do their best to meet and discuss the concerns of all patients and their immediate relatives.