Scope of Service

Overview:

• IP PACU is a thirteen bay unit located in the surgical area on 2West Pavilion. There are two dedicated pediatric bays and one negative airflow isolation bay.
• The sources of the patients that require post anesthesia care in the IP PACU are from the surgical area, cath lab, and radiology or require procedural monitoring on an outpatient bases.

Types and Ages of Patients Served:

• The primary population types are infant through geriatrics.
• Types of patients recovered include but not limited to: general surgery, neurosurgical, orthopedic, thoracic, vascular, burns, ophthalmic, ENT, urological, trauma, and cardiovascular.

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:

• Post surgical procedures
• Post anesthesia management

Types of Services & Care Provided:

Services provided include treatments and /or activities for cardiac and hemodynamic management, airway/ventilator management, pain and nausea management, IV management, hypo/hypertension management, cardioversions, outpatient teaching and wound/incision care management.

The nursing staff is provided by a team consisting of registered nurses with 1:1 or 1:2 nurse to patient ratio, depending on acuity. There is a unit clerk Monday through Friday, 10:00-18:00 used for telephone triage and order transposition. A surgical service PCA is shared between the IP PACU and the IP Preop area for the transportation of patients in the PACU.

Surgeons, anesthesiologists, hospitalists, intensivists, and cardiologists provide the medical care for the patient.

Other multi-disciplinary team members involved in the care of the patient include CRNA’s, respiratory care, case management, OT/PT, pharmacy, physician liaison, and dietary.

Sites Where Services & Care is Provided:

Most diagnostic services are provided at the bedside. They include bedside 12 lead EKG, portable x-rays, lab draws, PT/OT therapy, and rehab instruction. For other tests, such as CT, MRI, invasive radiologic exams, patients are transported to the Radiology Department. Nursing staff and various multidisciplinary team members as appropriate escort the patients. Other treatments and procedures performed at the bedside include, but are not limited to cardioversions, TEE’s, ultra sounds, and cardiovascular procedures.

Times When Services & Care is provided:

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