GBGH ICU achieves Level 3 Basic designation
October 21, 2020 – Georgian Bay General Hospital’s (GBGH) Intensive Care Unit (ICU) has been recently designated as a Level 3 Basic facility based on a recent review by Critical Care Services Ontario (CCSO) of ICUs across the province. This is the second highest designation an ICU can receive in Ontario with the exception of specialty units (i.e. Coronary Care).
“For a community hospital like GBGH to have this designation is quite a testament to our commitment of providing exceptional critical care,” says Gail Hunt, president and CEO, GBGH. “I am very proud of this accomplishment and what it means for our patients. GBGH’s ICU is able to care for some of the most complex and acutely ill patients in our region, providing comprehensive critical care services within our community.”
To be designated a particular level, ICUs must meet specific standards related to respiratory therapy support, ventilator use and intravenous blood pressure monitoring and medication management.
There are five levels for ICU care in Ontario – Level 1, Level 2 Basic, Level 2 Advanced, Level 3 Basic and Level 3 Advanced. Level 3 Advanced is the highest level of ICU care (with Coronary Care Units being an additional specialty designation).
“GBGH has invested in its critical care program over the past three years and the positive progress we’ve made has brought us to this Level 3 basic designation,” says Dr. Khalid Tahir, intensivist and chief of Critical Care, GBGH. “By implementing 24/7 respiratory therapy coverage and continuing to improve the skills of our talented ICU team, we are able to address more serious conditions. There will still be some instances – such as with neurosurgery and cardiovascular care – when we still need to transfer patients to other facilities, but we are well-equipped to care for the majority of our area’s critical care cases here at GBGH.”
In addition to providing a high level of critical care, as a Level 3 Basic ICU, GBGH is more attractive to recruit intensivists and nursing staff who prefer to work in a more acute critical care setting.
Contact:
Jennifer Moore
Communications Officer, GBGH
705-526-1300 ext 5177