The Intensive Care Unit Team

Visiting the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) can be overwhelming. The equipment, noises and new faces often add to the feelings of anxiety and helplessness. Our goal as a critical care staff is to help patients and families through a stressful time. Rutland’s specially trained ICU team includes:

• Critical Care Physician (Intensivist). Critical care physicians are trained and certified in critical care medicine, and it is their responsibility to oversee the care provided to Rutland ICU patients. The critical care physician may act as the patient’s primary physician, as a consultant, or an advisor to the patient’s primary physician.
• Unit Nursing Director. The nursing director is responsible for the overall activities of the ICU 24 hours a day, ensuring that each patient receives high quality, individualized care.
• ICU Nurse. Rutland’s ICU nurses have received special education in caring for the critically ill, and many of our RN’s have earned Critical Care Certification.
• Respiratory Therapist. Registered respiratory therapists play an important role in helping patients with breathing problems. In coordination with the physician, they manage the ventilators, administer special breathing treatments, assist with breathing exercises and educate patients on how to maintain healthy breathing.
• Clinical Pharmacist. A pharmacist assigned to the ICU is responsible for monitoring selected areas of patient’s drug therapy. Prior to discharge, they are available to assist patients and their families with questions about the medications they will be taking at home.
• Palliative Care Nurse. The palliative care nurse assists patients and families in exploring their needs, goals and ideas about quality of life so that treatment decisions can be made in a way that supports patient and family values.
• Social Worker. Social workers may be called upon to provide both emotional and practical assistance to  patients and families. 
• Physical, Occupational, Speech Therapist. These specialists assist with improving patients mobility, cognitive and speech function, and ability to perform daily living tasks. 
• Case Manager. Registered nurses who work closely with a physician to assist in facilitating patient care and discharge needs.
• Dietitian. Dietitians assist staff in providing nutrition support for all patients – especially those not yet eating on their own.