Due to the increased flow that has been observed recently in the Accident and Emergency Departments (AEDs) and in order to ensure their smoother operation, the State Health Services Agency reminds citizens of the way in which the ICUs operate, information which has also been published on the Agency's website at the following link https:/shso.org.cy/tmima-atychimatonkai-epeigonton-peristatikon-taep/.
The role of the ICU is to attend to accidents and serious incidents that threaten the patient's life. The first concern of health professionals working in the ICU is to make an initial assessment and triage of the cases in the department, classifying the patient into tiers according to the severity of their health condition. In this way it is determined how urgent each case is and how soon it needs to be treated. To avoid further congestion and especially in an area such as the ICU, where there is a heavy workload, psychological and physical pressure and time constraints, citizens whose situation is not considered urgent are encouraged to contact their Personal Physician.
Of the 5 priority levels for examination, Level 1 is considered the most urgent and requires immediate attention, as is Level 2. Tier 3 and 4 cases, whose condition is not considered urgent and not life-threatening, are likely to have some degree of wait until they are seen. Tier 5 cases, are NON-urgent cases, therefore they should expect that there will be a delay in examination depending on the other more serious cases that have come to the Department.
Upon the patient's entry into the examination room and registration in the Department, the ICU physician examines the patient, gives all necessary medical instructions (administration of medication, laboratory tests, radiographic examinations) and the nurse in charge of the patient performs all nursing processes according to instructions. If the attending physician of the CICU considers that the patient requires further hospitalization, he/she will call a specialist depending on the condition/trauma. If the patient does not require admission, then the TAP physician will proceed to discharge the patient. If it is determined that it would be best for the patient to be transferred for inpatient care to another hospital in the OCYP, then the patient will be transferred by the Agency's Ambulance Service.
Recognising the enormous importance of the ICUs, OCYP is constantly investing in equipment and human resources so that the departments of all its hospitals are able to respond and provide the best possible care to citizens.
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