Scope of Service

Overview:

• Size of the unit: 47
• Source of the patients: Inpatient Surgery, Outpatient Surgery, ER, direct admits, and transfers.

Types and Ages of Patients Served:

• Primary Population: Adult general surgery, adult vascular surgery, adult thoracic surgery, and adult general medical.
• General age of your population: Adults 18 – 100. We occasionally provide care for older adolescent/pediatric patients.

Description of Internal and External Customers:

Internal customers served include other nursing units, physicians, patients, families, and all ancillary departments of the hospital. External customers we serve include, but are not limited to: home health care services, area nursing homes, area rehabilitation facilities, medical supply companies, other contracted medical service companies, outlying hospitals, and the local community.

Conditions and Diagnosis Treated:

Conditions treated on the unit may include, but are not limited to: Repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm (open and endograft), aortic-iliac-femoral-bypass, bariatric surgeries, bowel resections, breast surgeries, carotid endarterectomy, congestive heart failure, diverticulitis, GI hemorrhage, hysterectomy, gynecological procedures, lap cholecystectomy, lower extremity bypass, simple pneumonia, general surgery patients, adult asthma, angiography/arteriogram, laminectomy/discectomy, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, renal/dialysis patients, thoractomy, transuretheral resection of the prostate, prostatectomy, altered mental status, CVA, TIA, orthopedic fractures, and other disorders.

Types of Services & Care Provided:

Services provided include:

• Day-to-day basis: Providing and documenting patient assessment, planning, goal setting (in conjunction with patients and their families), teaching, coordination and evaluation of care with all involved care providers, and discharge planning. Specific services include (including the documentation thereof) assistance with and/or providing activities of daily living, medication (varied delivery mechanisms – IV, oral, etc.) and nutrition (tube feedings, hyperalimentation, etc) administration, surgery or procedure preparation, and managing post operative, post procedure, and other medical treatment plan sequela.
• Unique services to GSU: Care of the patients with an Ostomy.

The nursing staff is provided by a team consisting of: The Director of Surgical Services, the Nurse Manager, four Unit Coordinators (two per shift), RN Care Managers, Patient Care Assistants, Nurse Externs (under the mentorship of an RN Care Manager), and Unit Clerks.

The medical care for the patient is provided by: Attending Physicians/Surgeons and associated mid-level providers (Physician Assistant’s and Nurse Practitioners), consulting physicians, the Hospitalist service, and the academic medicine program (Attending and Resident Physicians) through KCMS.

Other multi-disciplinary team members involved in the care of the patient include: Case Management, Medical Social Work, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Radiology Nurses, Transport Nurses, Hyperalimentation Nurses, Stomal/Wound Therapy, Chaplain Services, Patient Relations, and Risk Management.

Sites Where Care & Services are Provided:

Lab draws, glucose monitoring, portable x-rays and ultrasound, EKG’s, vital signs (including pulse oximetry measurement), remote telemetry, PT/OT functions, Endoscopies (including TEE), lumbar punctures, minor surgical procedures (including incision and drainage), paracentesis, thoracentesis, and certain procedures requiring moderate sedation (such as chest tube insertion or bone marrow aspiration) are performed on the unit. Patients are also transported to/from radiology, cardiovascular services, surgery (inpatient and outpatient), GI lab, and dialysis as needed for treatments and procedures.

Times When Services & Care is Provided:

Care is provided 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays.