Determine if and when you would want to be resuscitated by CPR or by a device that delivers an electric shock to stimulate the heart. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) restarts the heart when it has stopped beating.Talk to your doctor if you have questions about any of the following medical decisions: You should address a number of possible end-of-life care decisions in your living will. You may also choose one or more alternates in case the person you chose is unable to fulfill the role. The person you name may be a spouse, other family member, friend or member of a faith community. Can be trusted to be your advocate if there are disagreements about your care.Can be trusted to make decisions that adhere to your wishes and values.Is willing and able to discuss medical care and end-of-life issues with you.Is not your doctor or a part of your medical care team.Meets your state's requirements for a health care agent.You should choose a person who meets the following criteria: Even if you have other legal documents regarding your care, not all situations can be anticipated and some situations will require someone to make a judgment about your likely care wishes. They may need further care in a hospital, clinic or from their doctor.Depending on where you live, the person you choose to make decisions on your behalf may be called one of the following:Ĭhoosing a person to act as your health care agent is important. Once a person is well enough to go home, they will be discharged, usually with medicines and instructions for care at home. Patients are usually moved to another ward when they no longer need such constant attention or support. What happens after discharge from the ICU? You should not visit if you are feeling unwell. You can also expect to turn off your mobile phone and be discouraged from bringing gifts. Visitors are usually restricted to immediate family. What precautions should I take when visiting someone in the ICU?Įvery patient in ICU is very unwell so each hospital has a visitor policy. For more information, visit the Choosing Wisely Australia website.
In order to achieve this goal, ANZICS advise it is essential healthcare professionals explore the values and preferences of each patient. The Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society (ANZICS) states that the goal of intensive care is to return patients to a quality of life that is acceptable to them. If you or your loved one are critically ill and may need ICU, it is important to discuss "goals of care" prior to admission. For more information, visit the Advance Care Planning Australia website. Without such a clear statement, doctors might treat a person more aggressively than they wanted. In both cases, an advance care plan can be a very valuable document for a person’s family and ICU staff.Īn advance care plan outlines a person’s specific wishes concerning treatment when they are too ill to speak for themselves. Others with chronic or advanced diseases can be admitted if their condition worsens suddenly. What preparation should be made for admission to the ICU?Īdmission to ICU is often unexpected, but some people know they will be admitted, such as after major elective surgery. The ICU healthcare team understands how distressing ICU can be and is available to support immediate family. Each patient usually has a dedicated specialist nurse, who regularly checks the equipment and any life support systems. There are also likely to be several tubes either putting fluid and nutrients into the patient or taking other fluids out. Many ICU machines beep and make loud noises and alarms to let staff know if a patient’s condition changes. ICU patients can be connected to a wide range of machines, the most common being a heart monitor and artificial ventilators (when patients can’t breathe for themselves). ICU can be daunting to both the person being admitted and their visitors due to the lines, tubes, wires and monitoring equipment. if a baby is born prematurely or with a serious illness - there is usually a special ICU for babies called the neonatal intensive care unit, or NICU.heart or kidney failure, stroke, heart attack) during a chronic or terminal illness (e.g.there are fewer beds, with lots of equipment to monitor and care for critically ill patientsĪ person is likely to be admitted to ICU if they are in a critical condition and need constant observation and specialised care.ICU provides 24-hour care from a highly-trained team of specialists.
It differs from other hospital wards in that: ICU cares for people who have life-threatening conditions, such as a serious injury or illness, where they receive around-the-clock monitoring and life support.
The intensive care unit (ICU) is a special ward found in some hospitals.
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