Critical care services
We offer attentive, compassionate care when you or a loved one is in critical condition.
In the intensive care unit (ICU) at Portsmouth Regional Hospital, we constantly observe you to be able to deliver necessary treatments at crucial times. We aim to prioritize your safety, comfort and health, working to protect your well-being.
Expert advice, available 24/7
Free health-related information is just a phone call away. Our nurses help you understand your symptoms, treatment options and procedures. They will also help you find a provider or specialist and schedule an appointment.
Free health-related information is just a phone call away. Our nurses help you understand your symptoms, treatment options and procedures. They will also help you find a provider or specialist and schedule an appointment.
About our ICU
With our collective treatment methods, programs and protocols, we can support you and your family during the most severe medical situations.
Advanced treatment
To give you or a loved one the best possible experience in our hospital's ICU, we prioritize maintaining a high standard of care.
We use some of the latest therapies and equipment, including:
- Continuous renal replacement therapy — Filters blood in acute kidney failure situations
- Hypothermia therapy — Reduces organ damage following cardiac arrest
- Intra-aortic balloon pump — Assists the heart with pumping blood throughout the body
- Remote monitoring — Helps our caregivers deliver a constant, high level of attention and responsiveness
Use of these technologies and techniques may result in a shorter hospital stay and an improvement to your well-being.
Dedicated programs
Through our transitional care program, we can coordinate with your primary care provider (PCP) and specialists to help reduce your chance of being readmitted to the hospital. Additionally, the progressive mobility program we offer is designed to help enhance your movement skills by reintroducing you to physical activity.
Expert care
Our team has specialized training and certifications in critical care and cardiovascular surgery. During your stay, we give you access to multifaceted professionals, including:
- Clergy
- Dieticians
- Nurses
- Nutritionists
- Occupational therapists
- Pharmacists
- Physical therapists
- Physicians
- Respiratory therapists
- Social workers
- Speech therapists
Intermediate care unit (IMCU)
If you are dependent on specific medical technology to support your health needs, and thus require a longer hospital stay, we can transfer you to our IMCU. This unit may be appropriate if you're considered "step-down" or no longer require a certain level of care.
Interventional cardiovascular unit (IVCU)
You will likely be treated in our IVCU after undergoing an interventional cardiovascular procedure, such as:
- Atrial septal defect correction
- Internal cardiac defibrillator implantation
- Pacemaker implantation
- Patent foramen ovale (PFO) repair closure
- Percutaneous coronary intervention
- Pulmonary vein isolation
Safety and security
We closely monitor you or your loved one around the clock and only admit approved visitors to the units.
ICU visitor information
If your loved one is critically ill or injured, these rules are meant to provide them — and others under our care — with the best possible setting for recovery and renewal. Special accommodations may be possible upon request.
Our visitor guidelines
To help us care for your loved one in the ICU, please:
- Do not bring flowers, plants or animals
- Do not eat or drink during your visit
- Exchange visitors and information in the waiting areas, not at the bedside or in doorways
- Limit cell phone use, set your phone ringers on low or vibrate and keep conversations to a quiet tone
- Limit visitors to two at your loved one's bedside during regular visiting hours
- Provide direct supervision for children and keep your toddlers and infants at home
- Reconsider your visit if you have a fever, cold or flu symptoms
- Rest and take care of yourself so you're in the best possible health to help your loved one's recovery
- Step out of the room when requested while we perform procedures or stabilize your loved one
- Use the waiting area when not visiting in your loved one's room, helping to limit traffic in hallways, doorways and the unit itself
- Use wall hand sanitizers near the door of each room when entering and leaving
Your loved one should send any clothes and valuables, including money and jewelry, home with a trusted family member. We cannot be responsible for these items.
If you might be ill, we ask that you reschedule your visit.
Daily visiting hours
Visiting hours are flexible based on your loved one's health need and condition. Please avoid visiting or calling the ICU between 6:30 and 8:00 (both am and pm) when our staff changes shifts.
Designated primary contact person
Your loved one will select a primary contact person, who will receive updates on their condition from the critical care nursing staff. All phone inquiries about their condition will be referred to this individual.
This primary contact person will receive a privacy code to use with your loved one's name when calling for updates. When we have both required details, we will transfer the call to their nurse. Our nurses will contact this spokesperson if there's any change in your loved one's condition.
Self-care expectations
Because the best thing you can do for your loved one is to stay healthy, we encourage you to take breaks and go home to rest. If you leave, we can provide you with a beeper to keep you informed as needed.
Additional resources for you
Let our staff know if you'd like to visit with a member of the clergy. On-call clergy members representing all denominations are available around-the-clock for you and your family.
You can reflect in our peaceful chapel, located just outside the doors of the ICU. Our family room, next to the chapel, has a small kitchen, chairs that can be folded out into beds and phones for private conversations.
For your convenience, you can also find a list of local hotels and restaurants.
To help us care for your loved one in the ICU, please:
- Do not bring flowers, plants or animals
- Do not eat or drink during your visit
- Exchange visitors and information in the waiting areas, not at the bedside or in doorways
- Limit cell phone use, set your phone ringers on low or vibrate and keep conversations to a quiet tone
- Limit visitors to two at your loved one's bedside during regular visiting hours
- Provide direct supervision for children and keep your toddlers and infants at home
- Reconsider your visit if you have a fever, cold or flu symptoms
- Rest and take care of yourself so you're in the best possible health to help your loved one's recovery
- Step out of the room when requested while we perform procedures or stabilize your loved one
- Use the waiting area when not visiting in your loved one's room, helping to limit traffic in hallways, doorways and the unit itself
- Use wall hand sanitizers near the door of each room when entering and leaving
Your loved one should send any clothes and valuables, including money and jewelry, home with a trusted family member. We cannot be responsible for these items.
If you might be ill, we ask that you reschedule your visit.
Visiting hours are flexible based on your loved one's health need and condition. Please avoid visiting or calling the ICU between 6:30 and 8:00 (both am and pm) when our staff changes shifts.
Your loved one will select a primary contact person, who will receive updates on their condition from the critical care nursing staff. All phone inquiries about their condition will be referred to this individual.
This primary contact person will receive a privacy code to use with your loved one's name when calling for updates. When we have both required details, we will transfer the call to their nurse. Our nurses will contact this spokesperson if there's any change in your loved one's condition.
Because the best thing you can do for your loved one is to stay healthy, we encourage you to take breaks and go home to rest. If you leave, we can provide you with a beeper to keep you informed as needed.
Let our staff know if you'd like to visit with a member of the clergy. On-call clergy members representing all denominations are available around-the-clock for you and your family.
You can reflect in our peaceful chapel, located just outside the doors of the ICU. Our family room, next to the chapel, has a small kitchen, chairs that can be folded out into beds and phones for private conversations.
For your convenience, you can also find a list of local hotels and restaurants.