The ICU team

Doctors

The management of patients in our unit is led by our specialist intensive care consultants (intensivists) who are fellows of the College of Intensive Care Medicine. They coordinate and lead a team of senior and junior registrars, nurses and allied health staff who provide 24 hour care for our patients. The intensivists are also involved in the management of critical care resources, education and research activities.

The Intensive Care Medical Team provide emergency services and consultations, where appropriate, to severely ill patients across the hospital and to other hospitals throughout the state and region.

The intensive care unit is an approved training site for basic and advanced trainees of, not only the College of Intensive Care Medicine (CICM) but also those of the Australian College of Emergency Medicine (ACEM) and The Royal Australian College of Physicians (RACP). The education program is focused on meeting the training requirements of trainees with differing levels of experience, including assisting them with exam preparation and research projects.

Nurses

The nursing team in the intensive care unit is responsible for the coordination of complex care and treatments provided to patients. Nurses who work in the ICU are specialists and work with a multidisciplinary allied health team to ensure the highest standards of one-on-one care is provided.

Nursing responsibilities include monitoring and managing life support systems, ventilation therapies, medication and treatment administration. They also provide information and emotional support for patients and their families.

The Prince Charles Hospital’s ICU provides educational support and programs to nurses at all levels from undergraduate students to senior postgraduate staff at advanced practice levels. The majority of our nursing staff members hold specialist post graduate qualifications in critical care nursing and have accrued a wealth of experience in caring for critically ill patients. Our bedside nurses are supported by a highly experienced team of nursing educators, researchers and managers who strive to deliver high quality, evidence-based care.

Social Workers

Social workers provide practical and emotional support for families. They also assist patients and their families with organising letters for work and accommodation if required as well as assistance organising other practical needs. Our social workers are available 7 days a week.

Physiotherapists

The physiotherapy team in ICU provide exercises that aim to maintain lung function and maintain or restore mobility. Providing exercise early in a patient’s ICU admission can reduce the overall length of their hospital stay.

Patients in ICU are seen daily by a physiotherapist and exercises that are implemented will be based on the individual patient’s needs.

Pharmacists

Review prescribed medications and provides medication advice to clinicians and patients.

Speech Pathologists

Provide speech and language therapy services that aim to optimise a patient’s communication and swallowing abilities. These abilities may be affected in patients who require to be supported with a breathing tube on a ventilator (breathing machine).

Occupational Therapists

Provide interventions and activities to achieve better functional outcomes for patients.

Dietitians

Review each patient’s nutritional requirements to provide optimal nutritional support.

Patient Support Officers

These staff members help with the movement of patients to beds, into chairs, to procedures, theatre or wards. They also assist with cleaning the unit in between patients.

Technicians

Staff who are involved in technical work to keep equipment functioning and/or provide services to patients that help support overall care (e.g. perform EEGs, echocardiograms, ultrasounds and x-rays).

Receptionists

Our administration staff members support the unit 7 days a week, answer phones, manage patient charts and liaise with all members of the team. Most family members will have some contact with our receptionists either for assistance with completing forms or helping navigate around the hospital.

Volunteers

Our volunteers, known as Charlie’s Angels, can be found in the ICU waiting room. They are easily identifiable by their bright yellow shirts. They offer a helping hand to family members and visitors, providing information about resources available at the hospital.