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ICU Transfers

All MSICU transfers are the responsibility of the SMR on call during the day

The process for an MSICU transfer is as follows:

  • The MSICU physician, nurse practitioner or charge nurse will request a bed on 14CC by calling bed flow
  • Once a bed has been identified on 14CC, the MSICU MD will call the case managers on 14CC
    • Case managers are not available on weekends, so the SMR on call will be directly contacted in this instance
  • Once the case managers approve the transfer and confirm that a bed is available, they will contac the SMR on call.
  • Once called, the senior resident should:
    • Assess the patient within 30 minutes to determine suitability for transfer to a WARD BED (MSICU patients cannot be transferred to the Step-Up Unit UNLESS the patient was flexed to the ICU within 48 hours).
    • If the patient is suitable for transfer, the SMR should write "transfer to____ under Dr. ____" in the green order sheets on the patient's chart and notify the MSICU resident.
      • If an ICU patient was known to a medicine team, then they will be transferred back to this team (provided the housestaff are the same)
      • If ICU patients are NOT known to a medicine team, then they will be distributed to the 4 teams (A,B,C,D) in a 1:1:1:1 fashion
  • The MSICU resident will then write transfer orders in Soarian (it is not your responsibility to do this)
  • The MSICU resident should also write a transfer note (please remind them to do so if it hasn't been done)
  • A Junior Resident or Medical Student should then see the ICU patient and conduct a full history and physical exam, and write a full admission note in the chart, including a management plan.  
    • This plan will then be reviewed by the Senior resident.
  • If a patient is transferred to the floor without General Internal Medicine being consulted, please inform the Chief Medical Resident or Dr. Yuna Lee immediately.
  • If a patient cannot be transferred to General Internal Medicine until the following day (e.g. because of a change in bed availability or a change in the patient's condition), the SMR admitting on the day of the actual transfer should be notified to reassess the patient.