Better comfort; more individual care for seriously ill or injured patients

New Intensive Care Unit opens at Methodist Charlton

Spacious rooms. Cozy beds. 40 inch flat screen TVs. Plus, the high quality of care you've come to expect from Methodist Charlton Medical Center. The hospital's new intensive care unit is more than 28,000 square feet of comfort.

In March, Methodist Charlton re-opened its ICU in the newest patient tower. The unit now has 32 beds, up from 24. The spacious new rooms are specifically designed for the care and comfort of patients and their visitors, with soothing colors, larger sitting areas and separate lighting and TV audio for guests.

"We have room now for patients' family members to stay the night," says Fran Laukaitis, MHA, BSN, RN, FACHE, president of Methodist Charlton. "We have big waiting rooms, comfortable furniture, lots of new amenities."

Comfort is important for anyone staying in the hospital, or for anyone visiting loved ones. Even more important - the exceptional patient safety and patient care that has earned Methodist Charlton an A Leapfrog score for three consecutive reporting periods.

Methodist Charlton has added more critical care nursing staff, and the increase will ensure more one-on-one care. The nursing increase means each nurse will have a maximum of two patients.

Specially-designed workspaces promote coordination and communication among the critical care team and enhanced technology supports patient monitoring.

Advanced equipment includes:

• Six dialysis machines - the Prismaflex® System by Gambro - for extremely critical patients suffering kidney disease
• Three hypothermia machines - the Arctic Sun® 5000 Temperature Management System by Medivance, Inc. - for induced hypothermia in heart attack patients to reduce oxygen demand and save neurological function on heart attack patients.
• Complementing the new unit is the ICU's team of intensivists, physicians specializing in care for the critically ill. These advanced care providers are in the ICU providing 24-hour care, 7 days a week. Their round-the-clock presence gives patients better outcomes, and you, peace of mind.

Laukaitis says, "It's important for us to have this unit. They're our sickest patients. We want to make sure we have space when they need us." Take a virtual tour at Info.MethodistHealthSystem.org/Charlton-ICU.