Neurocritical Care Center
The Neurocritical Care Center at North Shore-LIJ Health System's Cushing Neuroscience Institute features a 16-bed intensive care unit that was established in 2007. Every month, the center sees 110-130 patients. Our dedicated neurosurgical intensive care unit (ICU) provides expert care via a team approach to the management of patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage, traumatic brain injury, intracerebral hemorrhage, complicated stroke and other disorders. Through our transfer center, we provide support to over 1,200 patients each year on Long Island and the surrounding boroughs who are afflicted with brain or spinal cord injury.
The Neurocritical Care Center uses state-of-the-art technology such as intracranial pressure monitoring, brain oxygen monitoring and current ultrasound techniques to provide critically ill patients with the highest quality specialty care services. In addition, the intensive care unit of neurocritical care is actively involved in international and domestic research trials.
Our neurosurgical ICU is a dedicated unit that provides 24-7 intensivist coverage for critically ill patients. Comprehensive care is provided through detailed, daily teaching rounds which include nurses, residents, fellows and a multidisciplinary team of physical and occupational therapists, respiratory therapists, nutritionists and social workers. Patients are treated through multi-modality monitoring, depending on the severity of their neurologic injury. A portable CAT scan is housed in the neurosurgical ICU for patients needing emergent imaging.
Communication with the patient's family is imperative. Our social services team reaches out to family and caregivers on a daily basis to discuss and educate families about the patient's clinical status and pertinent illnesses. Our Neurocritical Care Center has incorporated a child life team to arrange visitation for even the youngest visitors.
Our neurosurgical ICU has one of the lowest rates of nosocomial (hospital-acquired) infections in the region. This includes VRSA (vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), CLABS (entral Line-Associated Bloodstream Infection) and ventriculitis (inflammation of the ventricles of the brain).
The Neurocritical Care Center works closely with the following centers at Cushing Neuroscience Institute to coordinate comprehensive care for patients with serious neurological diseases:
- Brain Aneurysm Center
- Brain Tumor Center
- Comprehensive Epilepsy Care Center
- Movement Disorders Center
- Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus Center
- Skull Base Center
- Spine Center
- Stroke Center
To contact the Neurocritical Care Center:
Email us at neuro@nshs.edu or call us at (516) 562-3590.