Contact Us
Admissions: 410-601-2289
Main Line: 410-601-2400
TTY Phone Number: 410-601-2153 for the hearing impaired
About the High-Intensity Care Unit
Our respiratory therapists and registered nurses are certified in advanced cardiac life support, and the ratio of nurses to patients is adapted to this level of care. Our treatment team also includes licensed social workers, licensed practical nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists. The team conducts multidisciplinary rounds three times per week. Additionally, we have a convenient pharmacy, laboratory and diagnostic radiological services.
Our Patients
Patients in the High Intensity Care Unit are monitored for cardiac conditions and serious complex conditions. They may be admitted directly from intensive care units, coronary care units or intermediate care units for ongoing care, or may be transferred within the facility due to a change in condition.
Candidates for the High Intensity Care Unit are patients who meet the chronic criteria and who have a medical or surgical problem that requires cardiac or intensive monitoring. This includes patients with:
- Increasing heart failure who are hemodynamically stable
- Recent cardiothoracic surgery
- Drug toxicities with arrhythmogenic compounds such as digitalis and tricyclic antidepressants
- Electrolyte disturbances with a potential for life-threatening arrhythmias
Special Services
The High Intensity Care Unit also treats conditions that require:
- Additional nutritional interventions
- Cardiac drips
- Dialysis at bedside
- Fistula treatment
- PEG tubes
- Peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) lines
- Physical, occupational and speech therapy
- Post-acute care hospitalists
- Wound vacs and complex wound care (wound nurse assigned to unit)
- Ileostomy/colostomy
- IV medications
- LVAD
- NG tubes
- Surgical drains
- Total parenteral nutrition
- Tracheostomy
- Transplant patient care
We treat life-threatening arrhythmia by combining regular cardiology and pulmonary critical care support with other therapies, including:
- Chest tube management
- Complex airway management
- Ventilator management and weaning
Ventilator/Respiratory Services
Levindale provides ventilator/respiratory services for patients who have respiratory failure following catastrophic illness, neurologic challenges or postsurgical complications. These conditions can make it impossible to breathe without the help of a ventilator.
Patients on ventilators or who have complex respiratory issues may have other medical conditions such as renal failure requiring hemodialysis or complex wound care. Levindale’s attending physicians focus on weaning patients from mechanical ventilation so they can regain an optimal level of independent function.
Services:
- ENT services to assess and treat airways before decannulation
- Multidisciplinary rounds to coordinate the best care for the patient
- Non-invasive ventilation (CPAP, BIPAP) to assist in the management of acute and chronic respiratory failure without the need for an artificial airway
- Pulmonologists on call 24/7 and 3 visits per week
- Respiratory therapists on-site 24/7
- Ventilator management
- Ventilator weaning
- Vapotherm high-flow nasal cannula to provide heated and humidified oxygen with a flow rate that is higher than traditional oxygen therapy. High-flow oxygen therapy reduces the patient’s work of breathing while working to eliminate the effects of hypoxia and hypercarbia
- Trach weaning to decannulation (removal of tracheostomy)
LVAD Program
Levindale’s rehab teams have been specially trained to treat patients who have a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implant. Levindale is the preferred provider for patients who have had VAD surgery and need post-surgical acute-level care. Like all patients at Levindale, patients in this program receive one to three hours of therapy every day. Weekend services are also available.
Recover Coma Emergence Program
Our multidisciplinary team members are trained to evaluate and treat the physical, cognitive and behavioral consequences of brain injury. Many of our rehabilitation therapists are certified through the Academy of Certified Brain Injury Specialists.
Our patients include those recovering from both traumatic (TBI) and acquired brain injuries (ABI), which can result from:
- Blow to the head
- Fall
- Infectious disease
- Lack of oxygen to the brain (anoxic brain injury)
- Motor vehicle accident
- Stroke
Patients must be less than one year from the onset of the injury, approved by our rehabilitation physician, score a minimum of 5 points on the JFK Coma Recovery Scale, meet medical criteria for our High Intensity Care Unit and be financially eligible.
After an initial assessment by our multidisciplinary team, patients receive physical, occupational and speech therapy with an overall goal of increasing arousal and responsiveness. Our team performs weekly assessments to measure each patient’s progress and response to interventions. Additionally, we provide ongoing support and education for family members and caregivers, including a monthly support group.
Our care team includes:
- Dietitians
- ENTs
- Neurologists
- Neuropsychologists
- Nurses
- Occupational Therapists
- Pharmacists
- Physical Therapists
- Post-Acute Care Hospitalists
- Psychiatrists
- Pulmonologists
- Rehabilitation Physicians
- Respiratory Therapists
- Social Workers
- Speech Language Pathologists