Intensive Care Unit

Intensive care units (ICU) are where patients with serious injuries and illnesses receive round-the-clock care from specially trained staff. Unlike other hospital departments, the ICU monitors patients 24/7 so that medical staff may quickly respond to any changes in patients’ conditions.

The newly opened state-of-the-art ICU at Adventist Health Selma provides patients with a higher level of care when they need it. Designed to address each patient’s specific needs, the unit is equipped with six private patient beds, where patients receive specialized care from a dedicated team of healthcare professionals.

Patients are often admitted to the ICU for:

• Monitoring after an intensive surgery
• Difficulty breathing
• Poisoning
• Serious infections
• Treatment for a serious head injury
• Serious health risks
• Dehydration

Visiting ICU patients

The ICU staff understands the anxiety felt by patients and their families when critical care is needed. Visiting hours in the ICU are flexible and may be limited when a patient has a dangerous and contagious infection.

ICU patients need plenty of rest, and staff at times may ask visitors to leave so they can treat the patient privately. Rest assured, our team will provide family members with regular, honest and compassionate information about their loved one’s condition while following patient privacy standards.

Advance directives

One of the most difficult aspects of medical care is deciding on a course of action when a patient is unable to respond or make their own decisions. These important decisions need to be made with respect to each patient’s wishes. This is why we recommend that all community members create advance directives in the event that they ever become incapacitated.

Advance directives provide instructions for how much medical professionals should proceed with treatment if the patient is not able to direct them. For instance, if a patient doesn’t wish to receive a blood transfusion for religious reasons, the doctor will respect this decision even if the patient is incapacitated, if it is stated in an advance directive. Patients can also name a trusted friend or family member to make these decisions on his or her behalf.

You do not need an attorney to create advance directives. Contact us if you would like to learn more about advance directives or the ICU.