Baxter County Intensive Care
Round-the-Clock Care for Patients with Special Needs
Serious injuries and illnesses require a special degree of care. The Baxter
Regional Medical Center Intensive Care Unit is where patients who need
specially trained medical staff close by at all times are cared for. This
spacious department gives patients plenty of room to breathe, houses advanced
medical equipment, and provides hospital staff with ample space to coordinate
patient care.
Many patients staying in the ICU are connected to machines that measure
their heart and other body functions. While it can be shocking to see
a loved one connected to machines this way, these devices warn hospital
staff when a patient needs attention, even if that patient is unable to
communicate. Every precaution is taken to ensure those in our care receive
the attention and treatment they need.
Electronic ICU
BRMC offers an innovative telemedicine program that connects our critical
care patient rooms to a centralized intensive care unit (electronic ICU)
located in St. Louis, Missouri. This electronic ICU is staffed around
the clock by physicians who specialize in critical care medicine, called
intensivists, and highly trained nurses. Using computers, in-room audio
and video connections and high speed data lines, these specialists provide
an additional level of support to the BRMC patients' physicians and
the bedside care team.
Setting up Advance Directives
If you or a loved one is going to need intensive care, it is in your best
interests to assign
advance directives. Patients in critical care may be rendered incapable of answering a doctor’s
questions regarding how to facilitate their care. In these instances,
hospital staff refer to the instructions established in the patient’s
advance directive, or consult a trusted individual that the patient has
designated to make decisions in their place should one of these events occur.
In the event that no advance directives are established, a doctor may speak
with the closest family members or make a decision based on their best judgment.
You do not need a lawyer to create advance directives. Simply writing down
instructions and showing it to hospital staff member is often sufficient.
If you have questions, please do not hesitate to ask us.