Bay 6, or the Extended ICU (EICU), is a designated area within the Medical-Surgical ICU with the purpose of caring for patients who are stable and require more consistency and routine to meet patient and family goals of care.
The purpose of this part of the unit is to manage patients who still require life support technology, however need more of a focus on one or more of the following:
- rehabilitation
- a consistent approach to slow weaning from the ventilator
- supporting patients and families with a prognosis of ventilator-dependence
The focus of care within EICU is dependent upon the patient’s and/or the family’s wishes and goals of care. The goals of care may include establishing routines of advancing mobility and independence through rehabilitation, weaning and the management of chronically ventilated patients, or reducing monitoring requirements so that the patient is ready for transfer to another facility.
A patient can be moved to Bay 6 when they no longer require the intensive monitoring of the main Medical-Surgical ICU. However, the patient’s need for life support technology or monitoring means he or she must remain in the ICU. Patients will stay in Bay 6 until they no longer require this monitoring, at times this can be several weeks to months.
The consistency of approach by a smaller team will often benefit the patient. For example, regular routine can help manage the sleep/wake cycle, allowing for a better quality of sleep and rest.
Bay 6 Medical Team
The ICU consultants, RNs and RRTs rotate between the main Medical-Surgical ICU and Bay 6. The physiotherapists, nutritionist, and social worker work in both areas as well.
There is also a clinical nurse specialist who is the case manager for this part of the unit and provides continuity for patients and families during the patient’s stay in Bay 6.
Patient Updates in Bay 6
Team rounds for patients in Bay 6 on Monday afternoons. The bedside nurse can provide you with a brief update over the phone, or with a more detailed update at the bedside. If you would like to talk with the consultant looking after your loved one, please let the bedside nurse know.
If you have family members unable to attend a meeting in London, we can organize the meeting to include a telephone conference call for key family members.
