Houston Medical Center Opens New Intermediate Care Area
The Intermediate Care Area (ICA) is now open at Houston Medical Center for patients needing more individualized care than those on the medical/surgical floors. Patients in the Intermediate Care Area do not require the close attention of the Intensive Care Units; however, they still need to be monitored on a more frequent basis than patients on the general floors. Located on the 4th floor, the ICA consists of eight rooms with a four-to-one ratio for nurses and patients. Additional staffing includes a monitor tech cross-trained as a health unit coordinator.
“We are very excited about the opening of this new unit,” says Maggie Kubia, RN, Nurse Manager for the ICA, MICU and SICU. “It’s going to be positive for our patients and the physicians. For some time, physicians have requested this level of care for some of their patients that don’t need the attention of the ICU staff; however, we haven’t had any specified area for them.”
The ICA will also be able to admit patients directly from the Emergency Department and physician offices as long as certain criteria are met. “By admitting patients to the ICA, we will be able to relieve some stress on the Emergency Department and place the patients in beds instead of having them wait for any extended amount of time in the ED,” explains Kubia. Surgery patients will also be able to utilize the new unit as needed, she adds.