Critical Care
Southeast Health is the region’s largest referral center for complex medical and surgical care. The Critical Care Unit (CCU) is a highly specialized 32-bed unit dedicated to caring for the needs of critically ill patients needing intense monitoring.
Patients in this unit are cared for by a multidisciplinary care team comprised of specially trained doctors called intensivists, nurses and other staff experienced in critical care medicine. Working together, they create and implement individualized care plans for CCU patients.
The CCU is located on the fourth floor on Southeast Health’s main campus.
During your loved ones stay, you may need additional support or resources. We offer these services to support you and your family:
Case Managers/Social Workers
Case managers are registered nurses who work with social workers to assist patients and their families in a number of ways. They help by:
- Planning for discharge and making necessary arrangements
- Assisting with scheduling physician and family conferences
- Providing information on Medicare, Medicaid and other programs that may provide financial assistance
- Answering questions about advance directives such as living will or durable power of attorney
If you would like to talk with a case manager or social worker, please notify a critical care nurse or call the Case Management /Social Services department at 334-793-8070 (dial 8070 on a hospital phone).
Chaplain
Chaplains are important members of the “Healing Team” and are available to help patients and theirfamilies with emotional and spiritual concerns. If you would like a chaplain visit, tell your nurse or call 8111 for the operator.
Palliative Care
Palliative Care pays special attention to meeting physical, psychological and spiritual needs of
Patients and their loved ones who are living with life threatening illnesses. If you would like to speak to someone from the Palliative Care team, please notify your nurse. To learn more about our Palliative Care Program, click here.
Notary
Southeast Health provides notary service as needed. Please contact your nurse for assistance.
Language Interpreter
A language line is available to help communicate with non-English speaking patients. Sign language interpreters are also available for hearing impaired.
RV Hook-up
For information and/or assistance with RV hook-up, please call Security at ext. 8014 from inside the hospital, or 334-793-8014 from outside the facility.
Southeast Health was the first hospital in the region to establish an Intensivist Program. Intensivists are specially trained and certified physicians experienced in treating complex issues and averting complications that often arise quickly with critical care patients.
This is important because a growing body of scientific evidence suggests that the quality of care in an intensive care unit is influenced by whether intensivists are providing care.
This program is another way Southeast Health is continuing to take the necessary steps to ensure our patients receive the quality care they expect and deserve through evidence based medicine.
While rest is important for critically ill patients, family member visitation improves patient outcomes. For that reason, we have established expanded visiting hours: 7:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m and 7: 30 -9 p.m. From 9 p.m. – 7:30 a.m., one visitor may remain at the bedside.
No more than two visitors should be in a patient’s room at any given time. Please note, a patient’s condition may require that visitations hours be adjusted.
Families should choose a primary contact to communicate information about the patient’s care and condition. Patients in the CCU require extensive nursing care. Please limit telephone calls concerning the patient’s condition.
Primary nurse contacts are listed in the patient’s chart and can provide basic patient information to family members and friends.
When a patient is newly admitted to the CCU, it is important for your family to choose a primary contact. It is helpful to designate an individual that we can communicate with about your loved one’s care and condition. Primary nurse contacts are listed in the patient chart and can provide basic patient information to family members and friends.