Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Camden will open a Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit on Tuesday, July 29. The specialized “Neuro ICU” is equipped with the latest medical advancements and technology to care for critically ill patients with a wide range of neurological and neurosurgical conditions.

Featuring 18 single-occupancy rooms, the unit ensures patients receive round-the-clock attention and personalized interventions from specially trained clinicians, nurses, and support staff. Research [i] has consistently shown that outcomes for this patient population are significantly improved when admitted to a specialized Neuro ICU compared to a general intensive care unit.

The unit’s patients will include those with ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes, subarachnoid hemorrhages, cerebral aneurysms, brain tumors, central nervous system (CNS) infections, neuromuscular disorders, and seizures. The unit will also care for patients recovering from advanced spine surgery.

The hospital, celebrating its 75^th anniversary this year, is Virtua Health’s hub for advanced care, including neurosurgical services provided by the Penn Medicine | Virtua Health Neurosciences Program. The Neuro ICU underscores Virtua’s commitment to enhancing tertiary services and providing advanced, life-saving care to the people of southern New Jersey.

"By establishing a dedicated space and fostering teamwork across neurology, neurosurgery, critical care, emergency medicine, radiology, pharmacy, nursing, rehabilitation, and all hospital services, we are building a coordinated system of care that will elevate the patient experience and clinical outcomes," said M. Shea Ehntholt, MD, medical director of the Neuro ICU. “We are passionate about this work and eager to elevate and refine our collective capabilities.”

The creation of the Neuro ICU is part of Virtua Health’s $500 million, multi-year investment in Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital. In addition to renovating and establishing new spaces within the existing hospital building, the not-for-profit health system recently announced plans for the forthcoming six-story Marvin Samson Pavilion, which will house 78 patient rooms, as well as operating rooms and other advanced features.

Key Features of the Neuro ICU

The Neuro ICU follows best practices established by the American Heart Association, Neurocritical Care Society, American Academy of Neurology, and the American Academy of Neurological Surgery. The unit offers:

• Advanced Technology. The unit provides neuromonitoring with continuous electroencephalogram (EEG) and intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring devices. Patient rooms also accommodate portable CT scanners to obtain complete imaging of the head.
• Specialized Patient Rooms. Each room is equipped to support bedside procedures, which helps to minimize disruption and movement for critically ill patients.  One common bedside procedure is the placement and management of an external ventricular drain, which requires more space than a standard hospital room can provide.
• Enhanced Workflows. The telemetry monitoring system provides the care team with single-screen, high-level data for all patients on the unit, helping them best identify and triage patient needs. Strategically placed workstations on wheels also ensure efficient and timely care.
• Dedicated Spaces. The centralized nurse station allows for enhanced communication among Virtua colleagues and patient monitoring through large, HIPAA-compliant monitors. Other notable areas of the Neuro ICU include a nutrition station, utility room (for supplies and linens), and a private room for patient families to gather and meet with staff.

“This is a hugely exciting time for our hospital community,” said Lisa Ferraro, senior vice president of Virtua Health and president of the Camden hospital. “We are part of the most notable transformation in our long history, and we are making great strides every day.”

For more information, visit Virtua.org or call 888-847-8823.

[1] Resources/References:

Improvement in Quality Metrics Outcomes and Patient and Family Satisfaction in a Neurosciences Intensive Care Unit after Creation of a Dedicated Neurocritical Care Team - PMC

Predicting adult neuroscience intensive care unit admission from emergency department triage using a retrospective, tabular-free text machine learning approach | Scientific Reports

Outcome in neurocritical care: Advances in monitoring and treatment and effect of a specialized neurocritical care team | Critical Care Medicine