Long Stay
Long Stay Program (Critical Care Recovery Unit)
The Long Stay Program at Mackenzie Health consists of 12 designated beds within the Cortullucci Vaughn Hospital (CVH)Critical Care Unit designed to optimize patients’ recovery once they have passed the acute stage of their illness.
The goal of the Long Stay Program is to support patients in weaning from the ventilator, who require additional rehabilitation services and are expected to recover once they have passed the most critical phase of their illness.
Our goal is to work with patients and families on their recovery journey. We will ensure that patients will have the best possible chance at rehabilitation and breathing without the help of a ventilator.
The recovery process includes:
- Gradual weaning off the ventilator (i.e. increase time off ventilator).
- Progressively increase patients’ strength and endurance to improve mobility status and independence
- Empower patients’ ability to communicate by offering various communication tools and strategies
- Work with the patient and family to motivate and create a positive environment for healing
- Optimize sleep, medications, and nutrition in order to promote rest and recovery
Although most patients are transferred to either medical or surgical wards, some may require to be transferred back to their referring hospitals to continue with their medical needs. Others may be discharged to rehabilitation facilities, nursing homes, chronic care institutions, or long-term ventilation centers based on their specific needs. A small number of patients are discharged directly to home.
Interprofessional collaboration is an important aspect of the program that enables each profession to work together in order to provide the best possible care for our patients. The interprofessional team consists of:
- Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Physicians: Works with the interprofessional team, as well as the patient and family, to plan and implement specific goals of care based on the patients’ specific needs. At the start of each week a different physician assumes care of the patients to allow for fresh insight.
- Clinical Utilization Coordinator (CUC): coordinates family meetings and establishes an individualized plan of care for patients. The CUCs are an important point of contact for patients and families after admission to the Program.
- Registered Nurses (RN): Providing round-the-clock care, RNs assess and identify patients' needs, then implement and monitor the patient's medical plan and treatment
- Respiratory Therapists (RT): ensure patients receive adequate and appropriate oxygen therapy in 12-hour shifts during the day and at night.
- Pharmacists: provide important information to our medical team regarding appropriate doses and best available medications for each patient's condition.
- Registered Dietitian (RD): assesses the patients' nutritional needs and provides optimal nutrition support.
- Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP): Work to prevent, assess, diagnose, and treat speech, language, and swallowing disorders by determining whether a patient is ready to initiate oral intake, or help the patient to communicate.
- Physiotherapist (PT), Occupational Therapist (OT), and Therapy Assistants: the rehab team helps patients regain and maintain physical strength and functional ability to improve their independence with activities of daily living.
- Social Worker (SW): is available 7-days a week from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. to provide practical and emotional support to patients and their families.
*Further information on criteria can be found in both the screening form and full application. |
For the Long Stay Program: LongStayICU@MackenzieHealth.ca
Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital
Critical Care Recovery Unit, level 2, Pod A
3200 Major Mackenzie Drive West
Vaughan ON L6A 4Z3
P: 905-417-2000 ext. 5200