Critical Care

The Best at Getting You Better.

Critical Care units exist for one reason: to provide highly specialized, intensive care and treatment to seriously ill, critically ill, or injured patients. Our specialty unit offers close monitoring of patients who have unstable, unpredictable conditions.

The Critical Care Unit is a medical/surgical unit for patients requiring specialized neurological, pulmonary, renal, cardiovascular, or post-operative monitoring. Patients requiring close overnight observation are also admitted to this unit.

The Critical Care Team

Our team includes many critical care experts, including:

• The doctor: Every patient will have a physician in charge of their case, which may even be their primary care provider. Other physicians may be brought in for specialty consultation. These doctors have special training, skill, and experience for the critically ill or injured. Get to know the caregiver taking care of your loved one.
• The nurses: Critical Care nurses spend the majority of their time with the patient. They get to know the patient and the family. Terrebonne General's Critical Care Nurses have special training and the clinical skills necessary to provide critically ill patients' very best care. The nurses and physicians work together to develop a special plan of care for each patient.
• The social worker: At Terrebonne General, we have a social worker assigned to the critical care areas. The social worker is an expert in helping patients and their families deal with the overwhelming stress associated with critical care, and helps patients and their families understand and adjust to the patient's condition. Their role also involves helping those with any related fears or anxiety. Social workers at Terrebonne General provide information about financial counseling, clergy services, support group referrals, rehabilitation facilities, advanced directives, and ethical concerns.
• The family: Patients’ loved ones provide emotional support through visiting the patient. You may also be called upon to help make medical decisions with, and in some cases, on behalf of the patient. To be an effective partner in the decision-making process, we need you to share information about the patient with all critical care team members. We understand this is a serious time for you, the family, and friends of a patient in the critical care unit. Facing many of the unknowns associated with critical care can be an overwhelming and stressful time for everyone involved. Remember, you are not alone. Do not be afraid to speak up, ask questions, express your concerns, or ask for help.

Visitor Information

The Critical Care staff recognizes the vital role you as a family member plays in the well-being and recovery of our patient and your family member. Our staff knows that you too need support, reassurance, and above all, information. Three visitors are allowed at the patient's bedside at a time and should be limited to immediate family or a significant other. Selecting a family spokesperson who can speak for all and share information with the rest of the family is a vital link.

Visiting hours are designated as follows:

• 8:30 a.m. through 9:30 a.m.
• 2 p.m. through 3:00 p.m.
• 11 a.m. through 12 p.m.
• 6:00 p.m. through 7:00 p.m.

The unit staff may permit an unscheduled or extended visit in unusual circumstances.

Getting and Giving Information

Please let our critical care team know the best way to contact you when you're not at the hospital and be sure that you know how to reach us when you need to.

Here are some suggestions for communicating with the Critical Care team:

• Meet the primary care physician and the critical care nurse taking care of your loved one.
• Select a family spokesperson.
• Try as best you can to express the patient's wishes or what you believe them to be.
• Ask the nurses specifically what you can do to help.
• Prepare your questions ahead of time.
• Getting and giving honest information will help in making decisions about your loved one's care. Our goal is to get your loved one back with you as quickly and as healthy as possible.

To locate our critical care unit, please click here or call (985) 873-4141.