Planning a Coronary-Intensive Care Unit for Medical Patients, Veterans Administration Hospital, Omaha, Nebraska

摘要

The first step of the project was to determine if the need existed for a coronary-intensive care unit. The final decision to establish the unit was made by management based on information obtained from available statistics and interviews with the medical and nursing staff. Extensive search of the literature was conducted and several visits were made to existing coronary care and intensive care units. Physicians in charge of the units and nurses assigned to the areas gave information regarding desirable locations, physical arrangements and needed equipment. Suggestions were also offered regarding staff ratio, qualifications of staff and the type of in-service training that should be offered prior to opening such a unit. Recommendations were submitted for location, size, physical arrangement, equipment and staffing of a combination coronary care-intensive care unit. Guidelines were developed for establishing policies and designating responsibilities. The report includes appendices and a bibliography.