ICU care is for patients with serious illness or injury requiring around-the-clock specialized care.
Common reasons for ICU admission include:
Respiratory failure
Extensive recovery surgery (e.g., heart surgery)
Trauma (e.g., car accident)
Stroke
Organ transplant surgery
Overwhelming infections
The ICU Care Team
Patients in the ICU receive 24/7 care from a team of doctors and nurses.
The number and type of doctors depend on the patient’s illness or injury.
The care team works with other professionals to deliver the best treatment.
Other care professionals who may be involved:
Physical therapist: helps improve or restore movement
Occupational therapist: helps improve or restore daily living activities
Respiratory therapist: evaluates and assists with breathing
Dietitian: nutrition expert
Pharmacist: prepares medicines for treatment
Teaching and Learners
IU Health operates teaching facilities where medical students, residents, and fellows may be part of the team.
Day-to-Day in the ICU
An average day includes multiple visits from care-team members; the ICU is busy with lights, machine noises, and many care team members present.
Your loved one may be connected to various monitors:
Heart rate
Respiratory rate
Blood pressure
Pulse oximetry (oxygen level in the blood)
The patient may have various tubes and devices to aid treatment and delivery of medicines.
Monitors and Medical Devices
Central line: a long, thin flexible tube used to deliver medicines, fluids, nutrients, or blood products over a long period through a large vein in the chest or arm.
Arterial line: a thin catheter inserted into an artery.
Foley catheter: a sterile tube inserted into the bladder to drain urine.
Breathing tube connected to a ventilator: helps with breathing when the patient cannot breathe on their own.
OG tube: a flexible tube used to provide nutrition when the patient cannot eat.
Medications and Sedation
Patients in the ICU receive a lot of medicines, including sedatives to keep them comfortable during treatment.
What to Bring if a Family Member is in the ICU
Bring a list of current medicines the patient is taking.
Take care of yourself and get some rest during this stressful time.
Visiting, Privacy, and Communication
There are no overnight visiting hours; you cannot sleep in the ICU.
Physicians round one or two times each day.
If you have questions or concerns, communicate them to the nurses.
Nurses will relay questions/concerns to the care team.
Transition and Discharge from the ICU
Most patients are ready to leave the ICU in about 3 days; some stay longer.
When ready to leave the ICU, patients are transferred to a step-down unit or a regular hospital room.
A new set of doctors may be involved during the transition, but treatment remains coordinated through the original ICU team.
Post-ICU Care Coordination
Even after transition out of the ICU, the original care team continues to coordinate treatment.
Additional Information and Support
If you have questions about the ICU, you can ask any member of the team of specialists.
For more information, please visit IUHealth.org.
The message conveyed: Thank you for choosing IU Health for your healthcare needs.
Summary Takeaways
ICU care is for serious conditions requiring constant monitoring and support.
A diverse care team collaborates to provide comprehensive care, including possible involvement of medical students and trainees.
Expect a busy environment with continuous monitoring, tubes, and medicines.
Communication with the care team is essential; use nurses as the access point for questions.
Transition out of the ICU is common after stabilization, with continued care coordination.
Bring the patient’s medication list and prioritize your own rest and well-being during this time.
Practical Considerations
Be prepared for potential multiple rounds of doctors and changes in the care team during transitions.
Understand the role of each device listed above and how it supports recovery.
Use the provided resources (IUHealth.org) for additional information and updates about patient care.