Intensive Care Unit
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Overview
The Intensive Care Units (ICUs) at The Ottawa Hospital deploy unique expertise to provide care to The Ottawa Hospital’s sickest patients with acute, life threatening illness or injury.
Critical care is provided by specially trained physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, allied health professionals, social workers and members of the spiritual care team who use their unique expertise to provide care to the hospital’s sickest patients. Because emergencies can occur at any time, the ICUs are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Visiting the ICU
The ICU is open for visitors at almost any time. However, we ask that you do not visit during nursing shift changes so that the nurses may concentrate on communicating important patient information.
Please do not visit during nursing shift changes:
- Between 7 and 8 a.m.
- Between 7 and 8 p.m.
You are free to visit or call at any other time.
Calling in before you visit
ICU patients are often busy with tests or nursing care such as bathing or turning. For this reason, and to respect the privacy of the other patients, we ask that you call the ICU before every visit. There is a phone located outside the ICU door that connects directly to the ICU desk, and there are often volunteers who can provide assistance.
Communicating with doctors
The ICU doctors will make every effort to communicate with you frequently. If you would like to meet with the doctors taking care of your loved one, the best time is often in the mid-afternoon. Please speak to your nurse to arrange such a meeting.
Hand hygiene
Hand hygiene means washing your hands very frequently, and it is crucial to reduce the spread of infections in the hospital. When you visit the ICU, you will be required to wash your hands (with soap or an alcohol-based solution) before and after every point of contact.
Isolation
Some patients in the ICU are kept in isolation. There are different types of isolation which are used for different reasons. Sometimes patients are isolated because they are at risk for infection, and sometimes because they are at risk of spreading an infection to other patients in the hospital. The nursing staff will help explain what you need to do to respect isolation procedures.
Family lounges
There are lounges available at each campus located just outside the main ICU doors. These lounges are designed to provide a space for families to gather, rest and communicate easily with the ICU staff. During the day there is a volunteer on duty who can help provide information.
Why am I being asked to step outside?
When visiting a loved one in ICU, you may be asked to leave the room at certain times. There are several possible reasons:
To make room for care
ICU patients require frequent nursing care such as washing and turning which require many people to be in the room to help. We may ask you to leave during these times to create enough space to perform these tasks.
To keep procedures clean
ICU patients frequently require minor procedures, such as the placement of catheters. Since these procedures are performed under clean conditions, you will be asked to leave while they are happening.
To protect privacy
Because there are many other patients in the ICU, you may be asked to leave when nearby patients are undergoing a sensitive procedure in order to protect patient confidentiality.
Maps and directions
Civic Campus
The Civic Campus at 1053 Carling Avenue is a 28 bed unit with specialization in neurological, vascular and trauma care.
General Campus
The General Campus at 501 Smyth Road is a 28 bed unit with specialization in respiratory, thoracic and cancer care.