What to Bring
For your stay, bring the following items. If you forget to bring anything with you or if you arrive in our inpatient unit after visiting our emergency department or transferring from another hospital, a friend or family member can bring the items after you have been admitted.
Documents and Information
- Health card (OHIP card).
- Information about private health insurance or other health benefits. If you have private health insurance or receive other health benefits, this may help to cover the cost of
preferred accommodation if you request to stay in a semi-private or private room
- A copy of any advance directive (power of attorney or living will) you may have.
- Contact details for other healthcare providers who have been involved in your care to help us ensure continuity in your care.
- The names, addresses and telephone numbers of your family members, friends or other emergency contacts and your family doctor.
Medications
- All your medications in their original bottles.
- A complete list of medications you are currently taking, including prescription medications, non-prescription medications, vitamin or mineral supplements and herbal remedies.
Clothing and Personal Items
- Loose, comfortable clothes to wear during the day that are easy to put on.
- Clothes to sleep in, such as a nightgown or pajamas and a robe.
- Socks and comfortable shoes with non-skid rubber soles, such as running shoes. If you have limited movement in your arms or hands, we recommend bringing shoes with Velcro straps.
- Slippers (rubber soles and closed backs are preferred).
- Toiletries, such as a toothbrush, tissues or lip and skin moisturizer. Please
do not bring any
scented products.
- Electrical supplies such as a razor or blow dryer. Please show your nurse any electrical items you bring, as items need to be checked to make sure they can be used safely in the inpatient service.
- Hearing aids and batteries, dentures and eyeglasses.
- Walker, wheelchair or other mobility aids, labelled with your name and phone number.
You may also want to bring:
- A cell phone and/or a phone card for local and long-distance calls.
- Small personal items, such as books or magazines.
- A personal device for music or entertainment, and headphones or earplugs so you do not disturb other patients. Free UHN guest wi-fi is available throughout the hospital.
- A small amount of money for newspapers, coffee or other small purchases in the hospital.
- Anything else that will make your stay more comfortable.
We do not take responsibility for your money or valuables. If you choose to bring them into the hospital, you are doing so at your own risk.
When You Arrive
An admitting clerk, intake coordinator or nurse will meet with you shortly after you arrive. They will welcome you and:
- Tell you about the services available while you are at UHN
- Get your health card (OHIP card) number
- Get information about any private insurance you may have or other health benefits you may receive
- Get any other relevant information, such as advance directives
- Help you get settled and comfortable as quickly as possible
- Answer any questions you may have
During Your Stay
In order to allow our team to spend more time caring for you, we ask that you choose one (1) person to act as a spokesperson or contact person for your family. This person should be the one who will phone the CICU for updates and share this information with all the other family members and friends. CICU staff will call this person if they need to talk about your condition or care.
While the spokesperson can speak to the medical staff at any time, we will also arrange family meetings, as necessary. These meetings will be held in the CICU at a time when everyone can join in. Family meetings provide a chance for the members of the health care team and the family to meet and talk about your progress.
Your Treatment
The unit may seem busy with alarms sounding and machines at each bedside. All of our patients are attached to heart monitors so our staff can closely watch their status.
An intravenous line is frequently used in CICU to give medicine, measure pressures and collect blood. Sometimes patients need more than one intravenous (IV) line.
Often patients need oxygen in the CICU, which can be given through a mask, with small tubes in the nostrils, or from a breathing machine.
You may have blood tests,
x-rays,
ultrasounds,
CT scans or other tests performed during your stay. If we recommend that you receive any of these tests, we will discuss them with you in advance, and we will meet with you afterward to discuss the results.
Early mobility, including moving, stretching and exercising, is important for cardiac patients in the CICU. The nursing staff will help you to mobilize and do simple exercises. A physiotherapist may also assess and treat you if needed. Family members are encouraged to get involved and help you to get moving.
Monitoring Your Health
Your healthcare team will see you every day. We will talk with you about how you are doing and answer any questions you may have. If you want to speak with a member of your healthcare team at any other time, ask the nurse looking after you.
Visitors
We know that having your family close by is important to you. Our CICU staff will do their best to accommodate visits to the unit.
When visitors arrive at the hospital, they should go to the 2nd floor waiting room and call into the unit at extension 4066. The unit clerk will check with the nurse to be sure that it is a good time to visit. No visiting after 9:00 pm please, except in special cases.
The unit and patient rooms have limited space, so for safety reasons, we only allow 2 visitors at a time. Although young children can visit, they must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
Learn more about
visiting patients at UHN »
Amenities
Throughout our hospital, you and your family and other visitors can find a range of amenities to make your stay more enjoyable and comfortable. Learn more about
amenities at UHN hospitals.
Eating and Drinking
You will have a chance to tell us about your food preferences and allergies when you are admitted to the hospital. This information will be entered into our computer system, and your meals will take into account your preferences and allergies, as well as the diet plan specified by your doctor.
Medications
If you are taking any medications before you enter the hospital or if our healthcare professionals order new medications during your stay, we will provide your medications at the required times. For each medication, you should know:
- The name of the medication
- Why you need it
- How much to take
- When to take it
- Any side effects it may cause
If you want to know more about your medications, you can ask your pharmacist, doctor or nurse at any time.
Pain Management
As your body heals, you may experience some pain and discomfort. Our goal is to make sure that you have as little pain as possible.
Managing your pain can help your recovery. Pain management can:
- Decrease the amount of stress on your body
- Promote healing
- Decrease complications
- Prevent the development of chronic or long-term pain
To manage your pain, we need to know what you are feeling. You can describe your pain on a number scale, where "0" means "no pain" and "10" means "the worst pain you can imagine." You can also describe your pain with words like:
- Mild
- Moderate
- Severe
- Sharp
- Achy
- Throbbing
These words can help us understand and treat your pain.
Hand Washing
It is important to wash your hands well and often while you are in the hospital. Washing your hands will reduce the chances that you will become sick or get an infection.
It's okay to ask your doctor, nurse and other healthcare providers to wash or sanitize their hands using a gel hand sanitizer before examining you.
You can learn more about
infection control at UHN.
For Families
Visiting Hours
UHN hospitals offer flexible visiting hours. However, the CICU is closed to visitors for 2 hours each day: from 7:00 am - 8:00 am and from 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm.
We know that being with your loved one is very important. Our CICU staff will do their very best to accommodate your visits to the unit.
When you arrive at the hospital, go to the 2nd floor waiting room and call the unit at extension 4066. The unit clerk will check with the nurse to be sure that it is a good time to visit. No visiting after 9:00 pm please, except in special cases. The unit and patient rooms have limited space, so for safety reasons, we only allow 2 visitors at a time. Although young children can visit, an adult must be with them at all times.
You can bring cards or small gifts for loved ones. If you would like to bring flowers, please ask the nurses first to be sure that it is okay.
Cell phones are not allowed in patient rooms while visiting the CICU, because cell phones can interfere with the performance of heart monitors. If you must use your cell phone, please only use it in the hallway or outside the unit. This rule also helps to keep the noise down, so patients get the rest they need. There are payphones in the hallway next to the waiting room. If the patient needs a phone in their room please ask the nurse for assistance. To make a call into a patient room please call the main desk first and ask for your family member by name.
Sometimes infections and illnesses can spread in the hospital by germs we carry on our hands. Hand sanitizer gel is available on the unit. Visitors should use it each time they enter and leave, as well as before and after touching their loved one. At times isolation precautions may be used when entering a patient's room to prevent the spread of a particular infection. All visitors should adhere to these isolation precautions. There will be signs explaining the precautions visitors should take such as wearing a mask or gown.
Please do not visit the CICU if you are feeling sick or have a cough, fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, unexplained rash or anything you think is a cold or flu.
What to Expect
In the CICU a team of health care professionals will care for your loved one and help prepare for discharge, or for transfer to the cardiology ward.
When loved ones are seriously ill, we know this experience is stressful for the entire family. You can help us by telling us what you need. Family members need to take care of themselves by eating properly, getting enough sleep and taking time away from the hospital when needed. While away, your loved one will never be alone in the CICU.
We believe that patients and families should have access to information and be involved in our patient's plan of care. You are invited to attend the daily rounding process in CICU, where you'll have the opportunity to listen and understand your loved one's progress, ask questions, and share your perspective.
During the Patient's Stay
In order to allow our team to spend more time caring for your loved one, we ask that you choose one (1) person to act as a spokesperson or contact person for your family. This person should be the one who will phone the CICU for updates and share this information with all the other family members and friends. CICU staff will call this person if they need to talk about their loved one's condition or care.
While the spokesperson can speak to the medical staff at any time, we will also arrange family meetings, as necessary. These meetings will be held in the CICU at a time when everyone can join in. Family meetings provide a chance for the members of the health care team and the family to meet and talk about the patient's progress.
How Long Will Your Stay Be?
The length of your stay will be based on your healthcare team's assessment of your condition. Soon after you arrive on the unit, we will discuss with you and your family how long you will be staying. This may be reassessed every day when the doctors complete their rounds.
Preparing for Your Discharge
We will work with you and your family to start planning early for your discharge to help you make a safe and successful transition.
At the end of your CICU stay, we will let you know if you should be transferred to the cardiology ward for further recovery or if you can be discharged from our unit. If you are going home we will give you discharge instructions and a prescription for any medications you require.
If you have any questions about your discharge or your care needs before you leave the hospital, don't be afraid to ask a member of your team. We are here to help you.
