Critical Care Units - ICU & CPU
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 You can be confident that your loved one will receive expert, compassionate care in our nationally recognized Critical Care Units. At Alta Bates Summit, we believe in caring for family members as well as for our patients, so please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.
Located in the Merritt Pavilion of the Summit Campus in Oakland, Critical Care is divided into two units: the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and the Cardiopulmonary Unit (CPU). Use the links below to learn more about each unit and about visiting a critical care patient.
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Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
Cardiopulmonary Unit (CPU)
Visitor Information
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Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
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ICU patients require around-the-clock intensive nursing care with continuous monitoring and frequent medical interventions. Our medical and nursing care teams provide expert care: Specially trained Registered Nurses (RNs) monitor the patient’s progress and develop an individual plan of care for each patient. Our dedicated care team also includes Respiratory Therapists, Physical Therapists, imaging and lab staff, and clerical support staff to provide comprehensive patient care.
Kudos to our ICU Team! In 2000, our Summit ICU received distinction as one of the "Top 100 Intensive Care Units" in the nation by HCIA.
As needed, you will meet with our doctors to receive updates on a patient's condition. These medical updates occur in our ICU Waiting Room, located on the fourth floor of the Merritt Pavilion.
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Cardiopulmonary Unit (CPU)
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The CPU provides immediate and intensive post-operative nursing care for patients who are recovering from open-heart surgery. Our team of cardiac care experts delivers state-of-the-art care in a supportive environment. We use specialized equipment to closely monitor patients as they recover from surgery. Doctors meet with you in the CPU Waiting Room, which is located on the third floor of the Merritt Pavilion, to give you periodic updates on the patient’s condition.
When patients have recovered sufficiently, we move them to the Telemetry Unit. Patients in the Telemetry Unit are able to walk independently while still being supervised by our health care team.
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Visitor Information
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Visitors
We allow up to three visitors at a time. However, the nurse may need to limit visiting time based on the patient’s needs. Before visiting a patient, please call the appropriate extension from the phones on the wall outside of the waiting room and a nurse will let you in, or you can ask a volunteer for assistance.
Please note: We are unable to accommodate fresh flowers or plants at the patient’s bedside. However, balloons and dried or silk flowers are always welcome.
Also, please do not use cell phones in the unit.
Telephone Updates
Because of the intense needs of critical care patients, we ask families to limit the number of phone calls they make to inquire about a patient’s condition. Please select one family member to call into the unit, and then have that person share the update with others.
The Critical Care Environment
When visiting a patient in critical care, you may see lots of activity, hear a variety of sounds and view an assortment of specialized equipment used to care for patients. Some common pieces of equipment and their functions are:
ECG Monitor: Monitors heart activity and pressures
Ventilator: Assists with breathing
Oxygen Saturation Machine/Pulse Oximeter: Measures how well the patient is receiving oxygen (breathing)
Intravenous (IV) line and IV Pump: Delivers and monitors IV fluids
Feeding Pump: Delivers and monitors tube feedings
Chest Tube: Assists with the drainage of air or fluid from the chest
Family Support Groups
Family support groups offer a safe place for family members to share their feelings and to learn coping strategies, as well as help in building a support network. Please contact Chaplaincy Services if you would like to join a support group.
Resources
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact:
Nancy Brosnan, RN CCRN
Manager, Critical Care
Phone: (510) 869-6975
Email: brosnan@sutterhealth.org
Social Services: (510) 869-6546
Chaplaincy Services: (510) 869-6778 More information about Chaplaincy Services.
Patient Relations: (510) 869-6139 More information about Patient Relations.
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