Family Guide to ICU Patient Care Reliance Hospital Islamabad

When the patient is discharged from the hospital, then the most challenging responsibilities of the family start. These patients require continuous monitoring and proper nursing care, prevention from the infection and also the most important part of recovery, which is emotional support. Families usually don't know about all the protocols of taking care of ICU patients, which makes them struggle to take care of their speedy and safe recovery.

A proper family guide to ICU patient care is properly explained at Reliance Hospital Islamabad. Here the trained staff tell everything about the recovery process of critically ill patients, which becomes more comfortable for family as well as patients.

What is ICU Patient Care at Home?

For the patients who are all stable enough to leave the hospital but still require medical supervision, they need ICU patient care at home for a safer and more comfortable recovery. Specialised ICU nurses provide the hospital with quality care with the comfort of home.

This service is more ideal for the patients recovering from neurological disorders, organ failure or organ transplant; treatment of cancer; any disease related to the respiratory system; brain injury; or any surgery that requires time for becoming medically stable.

Here the patient gets expert medical attention as well as feels safer in a familiar environment.

Why Families Choose ICU Care at Home

Families usually prefer home ICU care due to its many advantages, some of which are discussed below:

• When the patients are surrounded by their loved ones, they feel safer and more comfortable; recovery is done.

• Sometimes hospitals lead to exposure to any infection; home usually lessens the risk of those infections.

• In the busy wards of the hospital, sometimes nurses become so busy dealing with all patients; here nurses focus on one patient only.

• Having the family along with the patient, he feels more comfortable, increases confidence and supports faster recovery.

• Some patients require more continuous monitoring for a longer time than usual; ICU at home will be more comfortable than admission in hospital.

Which patients need ICU patient care at home?

Patients who require professional ICU home nursing are the following:

• Patients on IV medication

• 24/7 critical care monitoring of vitals

• Respiratory issues

• Ventilator support

• Care after a major surgery

• Reducing pain

• Catheter induction and care 

• Soothing or comfort care

• Attention to hygiene or nutrition 

• Feeding support

Medical Equipment required for ICU Home Care

The home ICU should have medical equipment according to the patient's requirements:

• Hospital bed

• Vitals monitoring

• Ventilator support

• Nebulizer

• Blood pressure monitoring and controlling IV

• Oximeter for monitoring pulse

• Wheelchair

• Glucometer 

Nurses ensure that all equipment is used safely and correctly.

Daily Care Responsibilities of Patients in the ICU

Routine care is necessary for patients in the ICU:

1. Vital Signs Monitoring

• Blood pressure

• Monitoring the pulse

• Measuring concentration of sugar

• Temperature

• Respiratory rate

If any abnormal readings are there, daily checking can overcome it.

1. Prevention of infection

The most important part in this is maintaining hygiene

• Maintaining the hygiene of hands

• Sterile dressing when changing

• Equipment sterilizing

• Use catheter with care

• Maintaining the airways clean to prevent infection

1. Posture changes and physical rehabilitation 

Changing the posture and repositioning the patient after every few hours is compulsory; otherwise, the patient would be at risk of muscle stiffness and complications in respiration and poor blood circulation.

The condition of the patient improves with the therapies also. It includes exercises, muscle strengthening, and sitting balance exercises as well as walking. All these physical movements should be recommended by physical therapists according to the medical condition of the patient.

1. Proper Nutrition 

According to the patients' health conditions, the way to get nutrition or be hydrated is prescribed. It may be

• Oral feeding

• NG tube feeding

• PEG tube feeding

• IV nutrition (when prescribed)

1. Comfort and emotional support for patients in ICU

For the patients, mental illness is more than physical illness because they don't feel the comfort of loved ones in the hospital as compared to home. 

So the family members should behave calmly with the patient, reduce the stress-giving conversations and maintain a friendly and peaceful environment. 

This plays an important role in the recovery of the patient.

What are the signs to understand whether it is a medical emergency or not?

Here are some signs that show that a patient needs medical assistance:

• Unconsciousness

• Respiratory issues

• Severe pain in chest

• Seizures 

• Stomach pain 

• Difficulty in movement 

• Abnormal bleeding

• Blood pressure high or very low

• fingertips getting blue

• High temperature 

If you experience this kind of emergency, the dedicated and experienced staff of Reliance Hospital Islamabad are always there to treat the emergency condition.

How Professional ICU Nurses Help Families

Experienced ICU nurses help by:

• 24/7 vital monitoring of patient

• IV medication

• How to use ventilator 

• Respiratory care

• Taking care of hygiene 

• Making the environment comfortable

• Wound care

• Feeding tube care

• Catheter care

• Handling the Emergency situations

• Educating families about medical health and condition of patient

• Working on recovery procedures

Why should we choose the home nursing service of  Reliance Hospital Islamabad?

The expertise at Reliance Hospital, Islamabad, provides the professional ICU nursing care in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. This unit is designed to make the recovery of patients at home in a safe and comfortable environment. Our services include:

• ICU Nursing Care

• 24/7 vitals monitoring 

• Ventilator Care

• Tracheostomy Care

• Resolving the respiratory issues

• Critical Care Nursing

• Helping in Recovery after hospital

• Taking care of hygiene of patient

• Making a comfortable and friendly environment for elders

• How to operate and use medical equipments 

• 12-Hour Nursing Services

• 24-Hour Nursing Services

• Giving support in feeding

• Catheter care

Experienced healthcare professionals are always there to make patients feel safe and comfortable. They treat each and every patient according to their medical condition. 

Frequently asked questions

1. What type of services are included in ICU home nursing?

Services typically include vital sign monitoring, respiratory therapy, ventilator care, tracheostomy care, temperature monitoring, feeding tube management, suctioning, and personal patient care.

1. Can ICU patients recover safely at home?

Yes. With proper medical equipment, professional nursing support, and regular physician supervision, many ICU patients can recover safely and comfortably at home. Reliance Hospital helps them to recover more safely and comfortably.

1. Who should consider ICU patient care at home in Reliance Hospital, Islamabad?

Patients recovering from critical illnesses, major surgeries, strokes, or respiratory conditions need ventilator care, or those needing continuous monitoring can benefit from professional ICU home care at Reliance Hospital, Islamabad.

1.  Are 12-hour and 24-hour ICU nursing services available?

Yes, Reliance Hospital Islamabad offers both 12-hour and 24-hour ICU nursing services, depending on the patient's medical condition and care requirements.

1. How can I arrange ICU patient care services in Reliance Hospital Islamabad?

For assistance and information, you can visit The Reliance Hospital  in Bahria Town Phase 4 (Civic Centre), Rawalpindi. 

Or contact: Phone / WhatsApp: +92 326 8414921 or 051-5732855-56