The document discusses guidelines for organizing an intensive care unit (ICU). It recommends that an ICU have 4-20 beds and be located near operating rooms, acute wards, and the emergency department. An ICU should have private patient rooms or beds separated by curtains, a central nursing station, x-ray viewing area, medication and supply storage, and staff areas like a lounge and conference room. Utilities like electricity, water, oxygen, and suction must be available. The document emphasizes that an ICU requires a multidisciplinary team approach to its design and organization.
2. Objectives
1. Know the team to use in the organization of a
critical care unit
2. Look at the structures involved
3. ICU tour
14-Mar-24
Dennis Joe - BScN | RN
3. Introduction
Requires intelligent planning
An institute
May plan beds into multiple units under separate
management by single discipline specialist-
Medical ICU
Surgical ICU…
The number of ICU beds in a hospital ranges from 1- 10
per 100 total beds
Multidisciplinary requires more beds than single
specialties 14-Mar-24
Dennis Joe - BScN | RN
4. Organization of ICU
ICUs with fewer than 4 beds are not cost effective and
over 20 beds are unmanageable
ICU should be sighted in close proximity to relevant areas-
Operating rooms, Acute wards, emergency department
There should be sufficient number of lifts available to
carry these critically ill patients to different areas
Therapeutic elements in ICU environment
Windows and art that provides natural views- Views of
nature can reduce stress, Hasten recovery, lower blood
pressure and lower pain medication needs
14-Mar-24
Dennis Joe - BScN | RN
5. Organization of ICU
Family participation, including facilities for overnight stay
and comfortable waiting rooms
Providing a measure of privacy and personal control
through adjustable curtains and blinds, accessible bed
controls and TV and CD players
Noise reduction through computerized pagers and silent
alarms
14-Mar-24
Dennis Joe - BScN | RN
6. ICU Team
ICU design should be approached by multidisciplinary
team consisting of:
1. ICU medical directors
2. ICU nurse manager
3. The chief architect
4. The operating engineering staff
Other additional members:
1. Interior designer
2. Staff nurses
3. Physicians
14-Mar-24
Dennis Joe - BScN | RN
7. ICU Team
The chief architect must be experienced in hospital space
programming and hospital functional planning
The engineer should be experienced in the design of
mechanical and electrical systems for hospitals especially
critical care units
Floor plan and design:
Should be based on patient admission pattern
Need for support facilities such as nursing station, storage,
clerical space, administrative or educational requirements
Services that are essential to the individual Institutions
14-Mar-24
Dennis Joe - BScN | RN
8. Requirements
8-12 beds per unit is considered best from a functional
perspective
Each health care facility should consider the need for
positive and negative pressure isolation rooms within the
ICU
The need will depend purely on patient population and
state department of public health requirements
Each ICU should geographically distinct area within the
hospital with controlled access
14-Mar-24
Dennis Joe - BScN | RN
9. Requirements
No through traffic to other departments
Supply and professional traffic should be separated from
public or visitor traffic
Location should be chosen so that the unit is adjacent to or
within direct elevator travel to and from , the emergency
department, operating room, intermediate care units and
radiology department
14-Mar-24
Dennis Joe - BScN | RN
10. Patient Areas
Patients must be situated in a way that direct visualization
by health care providers is possible at all times
This permits the monitoring of patient status under both
routine and emergency circumstances
The design is to allow a direct line of vision between the
patient and the central nursing station
Sliding glass doors and partition are preferred if the
patient is in a room
This will increase access to the room in emergency
situations
14-Mar-24
Dennis Joe - BScN | RN
11. Central Station
A central nursing station should provide a comfortable
area of sufficient size to accommodate all necessary staff
functions
There must be adequate overhead and task lighting
A well mounted clock should be present
Adequate space for computer terminals and printers is
essential when automated systems are in place
Patients records should be readily accessible
14-Mar-24
Dennis Joe - BScN | RN
12. Requirements
Adequate surface space and sitting for medical record
charting by both physicians and nurses should be provided
Shelving, file cabinets and other storage for medical
forms must be located so that they are readily accessible
by all personnel requiring their use.
Although a secretarial area may be located separately,
from the central station, it should be easily accessible as
well.
14-Mar-24
Dennis Joe - BScN | RN
13. X-ray Viewing Area
A separate room or distinct area near each ICU or ICU
cluster should be designated for the viewing and storage
of patient’s radiographs
An illuminated viewing box of an appropriate size should
be present to allow for the simultaneous viewing of serial
radiographs.
A bright light should also be available
14-Mar-24
Dennis Joe - BScN | RN
14. Work Areas and Storage
Work areas and storage for critical supplies should be
located within or adjacent to each ICU.
There should be a separated medication area of at least
50sq feet containing a refrigerator for pharmaceuticals,
double locking safe for controlled substances and a sink
with hot and cold running water.
Counter pots must be provided for medication preparation
and cabinets should be available for storage of medication
and supplies.
14-Mar-24
Dennis Joe - BScN | RN
15. Receptionist Area
Each ICU or ICU cluster should have receptionist area to
control visitor access.
Ideally it should be located so that all visitors must pass
by this area before entering the ICU.
The receptionist should be linked to the ICU by telephone
or other intercommunication system.
It is desirable to have a entrance that is different from
other healthcare professionals.
Visitors entrance should be securable if need arises.
14-Mar-24
Dennis Joe - BScN | RN
16. Special Procedure Room
If a special procedure is desired it should be located
within or adjacent to the ICU.
One special procedure room may serve several ICU’s in
close proximity.
Consideration should be given to ease of access for
patients transported from areas outside the ICU
Room size should adequate to accommodate necessary
equipment and personnel.
14-Mar-24
Dennis Joe - BScN | RN
17. Special Procedure Room
Monitoring capabilities, equipment, support services and
safety considerations must be consistent with those
provided in the ICU.
Work services and storage areas must be adequate enough
to maintain all necessary supplies and permits the
performance of all desired procedures without the need
for health care personnel to leave the room.
14-Mar-24
Dennis Joe - BScN | RN
18. Clean And Dirty Utility Rooms
Clean and dirty utility rooms must be separate rooms and
lack interconnection.
They must be adequately temperature controlled and the
air supplied from the dirty room must be exhausted.
Floors should be covered with materials without seams to
facilitate cleanliness.
14-Mar-24
Dennis Joe - BScN | RN
19. Clean And Dirty Utility Rooms
The clean utility room should be used for the storage of
all clean and sterile supply and may also be used for the
shelving and cabinets for storage.
The dirty utility room must contain a clinical sink.
Separate covered containers must be provided for soiled
linen and waste materials.
There should be designated mechanism for disposal of
items contaminated by body fluids
Sharp containers should be available
14-Mar-24
Dennis Joe - BScN | RN
20. Equipment Storage
An area must be provided and securing of large patient
care equipments items not in active use
Space should be adequate enough to provide easy access,
easy location of desired equipment and easy retrieval
Grounded electrical outlets should be provided with the
storage area in sufficient numbers to permit recharging of
battery operated items
14-Mar-24
Dennis Joe - BScN | RN
21. Nourishment Preparation Area
A patient nourishment preparation area should be
identified and equipped with food preparation surfaces, an
Ice making machine, a sink with hot and cold water, A
sink with hot and cold running water, microwave and
refrigerator
The refrigerator should not be used to save laboratory
statements
14-Mar-24
Dennis Joe - BScN | RN
22. Staff Lounge
Staff must be available in or near each ICU or ICU cluster
to provide for a comfortable relaxing environment
Secured locker facilities, showers and toilets should by
present
The area should include comfortable seating and adequate
nourishment storage & preparation facilities including a
refrigerator, microwave
The lounge must be linked to the 100 by telephone or
intercommunication system and emergency cardiac arrest
alarms should be audible within
14-Mar-24
Dennis Joe - BScN | RN
23. Conference Rooms
A conference should be conveniently located for ICU
physician and staff
The room must be linked to each relevant ICU by
telephone or other intercommunication system &
emergency cardiac arrest alarms should be audible I the
room
The conference room may have multiple purposes
including continuing education, house staff education or
multidisciplinary patient care conferences
14-Mar-24
Dennis Joe - BScN | RN
24. Conference Rooms
Conference is ideal for the storage for medical & nursing
reference materials and resources, computerized
interactive self paced learning equipment
14-Mar-24
Dennis Joe - BScN | RN
25. Visitors Lounge / Waiting Room
A visitor's lounge /waiting area should be provided near
each ICU or ICU cluster
Visitor access should be controlled from the receptionist
area
One and a half to two seats per critical care bed are
recommended
Public telephones ( preferably with privacy enclosures
and dining facilities must be available to visitors
Television and screen should be provided
14-Mar-24
Dennis Joe - BScN | RN
26. Visitors Lounge / Waiting Room
Public toilet facilities and drinking fountain should be
located within the lounge area or immediate adjacent
Warm colors, carpeting, indirect soft lighting and
windows are desirable
A variety of seating, including upright lounge and
reclining chairs is also desirable
Educational materials and lists of hospital and
community-based support and resource service should be
displayed
14-Mar-24
Dennis Joe - BScN | RN
27. Visitors Lounge / Waiting Room
A separate family consultation room is strongly
recommended
Patient transportation routes:
Patients transported to and from an ICU should be
transported through corridors separate from those used by
the visiting public
Patient privacy should be preserved & patient
transportation should be rapid and un obstructed
When elevator transport is required, an oversized keyed
elevator, separate from public access should be provided
14-Mar-24
Dennis Joe - BScN | RN
28. Supply and Service Corridors
A perimeter corridor with easy entrance and exit should
be provided for supplying and servicing each ICU
Removal of soiled items and waste should also be
accomplished through this corridor
This helps to minimize any disruption of patient care
activities and minimizes unnecessary noise
14-Mar-24
Dennis Joe - BScN | RN
29. Supply and Service Corridors
The corridor should be at least 8 feet in width
Door ways, openings and passages into each ICU must be
36 inches in width to allow easy and unobstructed
movement of equipment & supplies
Floor coverings should be chosen to withstand heavy use
and allow heavy wheeled equipment to be moved without
difficulty
14-Mar-24
Dennis Joe - BScN | RN
30. Patient Modules
Ward type ICUs should at least 225 square feet of clear floor area
per bed
ICUs with individual patient modules should allow at least 250
squire feet per room
A cardiac arrest/emergency alarm button must be present and
every bedside within the ICU
Storage should be provided for each personal belonging, patient
supplies, linen and toiletries
Locking drawers and cabinets must be used if syringes &
pharmaceutical agents are stored in the bedside
Personal belonging should not be kept in the ICU, rather these
should be held by hospital security until the patient is discharged
14-Mar-24
Dennis Joe - BScN | RN
31. Utilities
Each ICU must have:
1. Electrical power
2. Water, oxygen
3. Compressed air
4. Vacuum
5. lighting
14-Mar-24
Dennis Joe - BScN | RN
32. Water Supply
Should be from a certified source
Dialysis water should further be treated
Hand washing sinks should be deep and wide enough to
prevent splashing preferably equipped with elbow taps
Must be available near the patients rooms or bed
14-Mar-24
Dennis Joe - BScN | RN
33. Computerized Charting
These systems provide for paperless data management,
order entry and nurse and physician charting
If and when a decision is made to utilize this technology,
it is important to integrate such a system fully with all
ICU activities
14-Mar-24
Dennis Joe - BScN | RN