Critical Care at Redlands Community Hospital
Comprehensive Medical Services for Patients in Critical Condition
When you or a loved one are transferred to critical care, it means that
your condition requires immediate attention and constant monitoring. While
this is understandably a frightening experience, remember that hospitals
outfit these units with the latest in life-saving medical technology and
staff them with critical care experts so that patients have access to
every resource they need to pull through this incident.
At Redlands Community Hospital, our critical care department consists of
the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Definitive Observation Unit (DOU) as well
as our Rapid Assessment Team. With these life-saving features at our disposal,
we can provide you or your loved one with the attentive, outstanding level
of care you deserve.
ICU
Our ICU is a 12 bed unit with private rooms. Each room is equipped with
electrocardiogram and hemodynamic monitoring capabilities, allowing us
to keep track of any changes in a patient’s blood flow or organ
functions. Three ICU trained physicians, also called Intensivist Physicians,
care for patients in this unit along with a Medical Director who remains
available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for both clinical and administrative matters.
In the ICU, our nurses and Intensivists can quickly respond to any life-threatening
changes in a patient’s condition, including cardiac arrest or seizures.
Intensive care can be a busy and sometimes noisy area, but for patients
with conditions that can take a turn at a moment’s notice, this
is the safest place for them. Our team will be able to assist you or a
loved one if you are having trouble resting while staying in the ICU.
Telemetry
Telemetry is the process of monitoring a patient’s vitals through
the use of wireless signals. Patients are typically transferred to the
Telemetry unit if they have suffered or at risk of suffering a cardiac
event such as a heart attack.
Patients are often transferred to the telemetry unit when patients:
- Have an unstable angina
- Require a permanent pacemaker implant
- Need frequent respiratory therapy services
- Are hemodynamically stable and require a ventilator
- Require drugs to manage blood pressure or cardiac dysrhythmias
- Are diabetic and require an insulin drip
The Rapid Assessment Team
When a patient’s condition begins to decline unexpectedly, their
caretakers need to quickly determine the severity of the incident and
possible causes so they can intervene. This is the purpose of the Rapid
Assessment Team. Consisting of a Critical Care registered nurse, respiratory
therapist, hospitalist, and Intensivist, the Rapid Assessment Team is
specially trained to evaluate a patient's condition and begin treatment.
Thanks to this team, we have been able to perform lifesaving procedures
on patients who suddenly suffer from cardiac arrests and other serious
medical events.