Patients moving to new ICU

The new intensive care unit (ICU) at Community Regional Medical Center will accept its first patients Feb. 27.

About 20 patients from the ICU in the 10-story building will move to the fourth floor of the new Trauma and Critical Care Building, the cornerstone of the 58-acre Regional Medical Center campus and future home of the Valley’s only burn and Level 1 trauma services currently at University Medical Center.

“We’re very excited,” said Kim Pope, director of critical care services at the Regional Medical Center and UMC. “I know our staff is going to be pleased with what this new space offers our patients.”

The new ICU offers individual rooms with advanced monitoring systems and each floor of the Trauma and Critical Care Building is as big as a football field.

“The ICU move is another important step in the process of moving acute care services from UMC to Community Regional Medical Center,” said Jack Chubb, CEO of the Regional Medical Center and UMC.  Community plans to move acute care services from UMC to the downtown campus over a couple of days beginning April 17.

After the move, UMC will continue to house a long-term care services such as skilled nursing and sub-acute care; ambulatory clinics (including an 'extended hours' primary access clinic); and ancillary support services, such as the outpatient pharmacy, basic X-ray radiography and phlebotomy services.

This story was reported by Michelle Van Valkenburg. She can be reached at mvanvalkenburg@communitymedical.org.

Monday, February 26, 2007