Redcliffe Hospital’s leading role in post-ICU care
Dr Stuart Baker, Laura Smith and Emma Proctor are the team behind Redcliffe Hospital’s Post-ICU follow-up clinic.
Clinical Nurse Consultant Laura Smith (pictured centre), Consultant Dr Stuart Baker and Clinical Nurse Emma Proctor are the team behind Redcliffe Hospital’s post-ICU follow-up clinic.
Laura describes the clinic as the missing piece in current Intensive Care services and explains more about this relatively new field of study.
“We know that some patients will experience Post Intensive Care Syndrome following an ICU stay, regardless of the reason for admission or length of stay,” Laura said.
“Symptoms vary between patients, but can be physical, emotional or cognitive and can prevent patients from returning to a meaningful life after their ICU stay.”
Post-ICU care is already well established overseas, however the Redcliffe Hospital clinic is currently the only permanently funded service of its type in Australia.
Laura and the team enjoy the work they do to support patients as they re-adjust to life after an ICU stay.
“The post-care starts a few months after a patient leaves ICU, when I contact them to check in on their recovery,” she said.
“Patients who ask for help, or I think would benefit from it are referred to Stuart and Emma, either at the in-person clinic or by telehealth.”
The team regularly reviews cases and works with allied health teams to put referrals in place to support patient recovery and communicate with the patients General Practitioner.
The success of the Redcliffe Hospital clinic means the team are now working with post-ICU patients from other facilities.
“Our clinic is on the way to becoming a centralised service for all Metro North ICU patients,” Laura said.
“We have recently started seeing patients from Caboolture and the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, with more to follow.”
Congratulations to Laura, Stuart, Emma and the Redcliffe Hospital team on taking a leading role in this complex and continually evolving area.