The Trauma Surgical Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center has been awarded the ICU Design Citation. The prestigious award — co-sponsored by the American Assocation of Critical-Care Nurses  with the Society of Critical Care Medicine and the Committee on Architecture for Health of the American Institute of Architects recognises intensive care units that successfully combine functional design with humanitarian delivery of care.

The criteria for the Citation focus  on planning and design characteristics rather than process or administrative features. The judges look for committment to efficiency, creating a healing environment, promoting safety and security and attention to innovative, unique aesthetic and creative design features.

The Trauma Surgical ICU is part of Penn Presbyterian’s seven-story Pavilion for Advanced Care, which opened in 2015. The unit ICU 20 patient rooms, including two designed to accommodate bariatric patients. Designed around the coordinated flow of care for critically ill patients, it is located next to the surgical floor, with direct access to CT, MRI and interventional radiology and the “Corridor of life” with service elevator access to the helipad and emergency room.

The spacious patient rooms include three distinct zones for patients, care providers and family members:

  • The care provider zone allows for flexible, patient-driven working configurations at the patient’s bedside that include an in-room computer on a mobile cart for documentation.
  • The patient zone includes beds, utility booms, lifts, HD flat-screen televisions, white boards for team communication with family, and patient recliners to promote early mobility and efficient care transitions.
  • The family zone includes flexible furniture to accommodate overnight stays, lockable storage spaces and a desk with accessible power and wireless Internet access.


See Also: Creating the ICU of the Future


Each room is equipped with telemedicine capabilities with two-way cameras that allow patients to view and interact with care providers on the telemedicine team located off-site.

Special emphasis was taken to create stress-relieving respite spaces for staff, with a central staff lounge, kitchen area, desks, on-call sleep rooms and shower facilities. The ICU has large, multidisciplinary conference rooms with advanced technology and video integration as well as smaller meeting rooms.

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) will present the ICU Design Citation to the trauma surgical intensive care unit at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center in Philadelphia, during the 2016 National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition, New Orleans, May 16-19.

A video about the ICU is available on the Trauma Center’s Facebook page.

Source: American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
Image credit: Penn Presbyterian Medical Center

«« Standards for Healthy Critical Care Work Environments Updated


Shared Decision Making in the ICU - Recommendations »»



Latest Articles

design, ICU, ICU Design Citation The Trauma Surgical Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center has been awarded the ICU Design Citation. The prestigious award — co-sponsored by the American Assocation of Critical-Care Nurses with the Society of Critical Care Medicin