Scope of Service

Overview:

• Size of the unit: 24
• Source of the patients: Inpatient Surgery, ER, direct admit, and transfers

Types and Ages of Patients Served:

• Primary Population Adult neurological, neurosurgical and adult trauma patients.
• General age of your population. Adults 18-102. We occasionally provide care for older adolescent/pediatric patients.

Description of Internal and External Customers:

Internal customers served include other nursing units, physicians, patients, families, and all ancillary departments of the hospital. External customers we serve include, but are not limited to: home health care services, area nursing homes, area rehabilitation facilities, medical supply companies, other contracted medical service companies, outlying hospitals, and the local community.

Conditions and Diagnosis Treated:

Conditions treated on the unit may include, but are not limited to: Neurovascular, such as ischemic, hemorrhagic stroke, and TIA. Neurological: including conditions of the spine and brain;, head injury, seizures and other neurological disorders. Other medical/surgical trauma related examples may include Pneumonia, Heart Failure, Sepsis, status post MVA and HIV. Neurosurgical: including spine, neck, brain and other general surgical procedures.

Types of Services and Care Provided:

Medical Practitioners include attending physicians, consulting physicians, Nurse Practitioners, house officers and Physician Assistants. Nursing staff consist of a Director, Nurse Manager, Unit Coordinators, RN Care Managers, Patient Care Assistants (PCA), student nurses that function under the supervision of their instructor and Unit Clerks. The delivery method is a coordinated managed care system utilizing a team approach. The Unit Coordinator (Charge Nurse) oversees the provision of patient care, manages the variability and serves as a clinical resource. RN Care Managers plan for the progression of care for the entire length of stay, evaluate progress, provide continuity and make appropriate referrals. Nurse Liaisons help facilitate referrals, treatments and do patient and family education during hospitalization. RNs and PCAs provide the care for their assigned team of patients during a given shift. Patient to team (RN/PCA) ratios are based on recommendations for a hospital based classification system.

Other multidisciplinary team members may include: Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Respiratory Therapy, Dieticians, Case Management, Social Work and Chaplain services.

Types of service provided include assessment, planning, teaching, evaluation of care, and discharge planning. Specific services include assisting with ADL’s, mobility and pain control, IV and hyperalimentation management, tube feedings, administering medications, administering blood and blood products, specimen collection, documentation and provision of emotional support.

Sites Where Services and Care is Provided:

Lab draws, portable x-rays, EKG’s, pulse oximetry, respiratory treatments, cardiovascular studies and PT/OT functions are performed on the unit. Patients are also transported to/from surgery, radiology, cardiovascular, GI lab, and Radiology Services.

Times When Services and Care is Provided:

Care is provided 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays.