About Progressive-Care Units

According to the New Hanover Regional Medical Center, progressive-care units assist patients in their transition from critical to basic care by providing 24-hour continuous care by an interdisciplinary health-care team.

Function

• A progressive-care unit (PCU) is a special unit within a hospital used expressly to prepare patients to transition from an intensive-care unit to that of a basic-care hospital wing. According to the American Association of Critical Care Nurses, PCU staff is specifically trained in the needs of patients who are classified as critical.

Features

• Progressive care is recognized as a vital part of recovery for patients leaving an intensive-care environment. According to Kathleen Dooney, RN, MSN, director of nursing education at Winthrop-University Hospital in Mineola, New York, medical professionals in this type of unit must be prepared to work at a faster pace, and expect more turnover than those working in a basic-care wing.

Types

• Progressive-care units are generally extremely specialized with focus on a particular system such as cardiac, renal, postsurgery or intermediate care. They are referred to by some hospitals as step-down units, and emphasis is placed on making the transition from intensive care to basic care as stress-free as possible for the patient.