[Description of the "new" intensive care unit of the Valladolid Río Hortega Hospital]

The unit described herein forms part of the Rio Hortega Hospital in Valladolid (Spain) and is situated on the third floor. The building houses several medical and surgical specialities and has been renovated several times; the latest renovations have involved technical and structural renovation of the Intensive Care Unit. The new intensive care unit was inaugurated in February 1998 due to new technical and medical requirements. The aim of improving medical care and the degree of satisfaction among patients and their families has been achieved and the work environment is more congenial and peaceful. The unit is composed of two areas: the multipurpose intensive care unit and the cardiology intensive care unit, edowed with the same monitoring system and apparatus specific to each. Moreover, the unit is composed of an administration area, storerooms and an area for common services (a room for the cleaning of material, waste disposal, lavatories, etc.). The medical team is composed of (a) medical staff-seven staff doctors and five residents; (b) nursing staff: 18 nurses and 13 nurse's aides in the multipurpose Intensive Care Unit; 13 nurses and 8 nurse's aides in the cardiology intensive care unit: one supervisor common to both units; administrative staff: one secretary; one security guard and one cleaner. The distribution of nursing work depends on workload reflected in the patient's daily chart, protocols, nursing care plans and follow-up sheets for the nursing team. Visiting hours are divided between the morning and afternoon and information is given to the patient's relatives by the doctor before the visit. The hospital has three catholic priests who periodically visit the patients. We also try to help when the patients profess other religious faith. The type of patients who are cared for in the unit as well as their distribution according to condition, severity, death, etc, is shown in figures: the data correspond to the period from January 1 1998 to August 1 1999.