Critical Care
The Critical Care Unit (CCU) is for critically ill patients facing an immediate life-threatening health condition. CCU uses advanced therapeutic monitoring, diagnostic technology and life-supporting equipment to improve the patient's condition and treat the underlying injury or illness. CCU is an intensivist (a doctor who specializes in treating critically ill patients) led unit, supported by a dedicated team of multidisciplinary professionals.
Personal Support for Patients & Families
Caring for the relatives of critically ill patients is an essential component for the CCU team. Our team focuses on areas that are important so to provide a “personalized” approach in care planning. This assists patients and their familyʼs ability to make decisions, encourages hope and supports the family well-being.
An example of this is our Three Wish Program. This program is designed to bring peace to the final days of a critically ill patientʼs life and ease the grieving of the family. Staff will, in a most sensitive manner; elicit three wishes that are personal and meaningful and then do their best to make it happen.
Example of wishes that have been provided include bringing pets to the hospital, posting family pictures, music, bringing a favourite classic car to the hospital or creating a word cloud to be remembered by.
The word cloud is created with descriptive words that tell the story of the patient, ensuring their legacy endures. At the appropriate time, the framed word cloud and sympathy card are presented to the family from the staff that provided care for their loved one.
Critical Care Response Team
The Critical Care Response Team (CCRT) is comprised of specially trained critical care providers who work with other hospital clinical staff to identify, assess and respond to the needs of seriously ill patients across the hospital. The CCRT brings specialist knowledge and skills from the CCU directly to the patient's bedside.
There are over 20 specially-trained CCU nurses and more than 10 RRTs on the CCRT team. If a patient is transferred from CCU to another unit, that patient is followed at 24 and 48 hours by a member of the CCRT team.
The CCRT is a dynamic group of individuals that make a difference in patient care across the hospital.
Did you know?
- In 2017/18 we had 984 admissions to the CCU.
- The Critical Care Response Team provides over 500 consultations and 1,000 follow ups each year
- Through a partnership with Mohawk College, each year we sponsor 5 nurses to receive advanced training.