Difference between Progressive and Intermediate Care Units

[bunsterj]

What would the differences be if a hospital had a Progressive and Intermediate Care Unit?

Thanks.

[rn-jane]

I work in an 80-bed step-down unit with both, but we are on the same team. We have levels 1-3, one being essential monitoring. 2 being our intermediate care unit which is heart patients recovering from catheterizations, CHF, chest pain, etc. Level 3 is considered progressive, during which we pull sheaths(PCI) from heart caths, fresh carotid endarterectomy, nitro gets, vents, and post-op open hearts or cardiovascular procedures on day 2.

[JJGRN]

I work in an IMC unit, and we have all of our patients on tele & continuous pulse ox monitoring; my understanding of progressive care is that it is telemetry only.

[pawashrn]

In progressive care (hence, Progressive), you are progressing the patient to a better health situation than their present status. (Intermediate care, therefore the Intermediate, care provided between progressive and aggressive care(CCU) patient, is critical but manageable how I see it.

[RNDTBP]

According to the AACN (American Association of Critical Care Nurses), Telemetry, Step Down, and Progressive Care units are the same. The original name for the teams was telemetry or step down. Progressive Care was developed to indicate a level of care and not just cardiac monitoring. Telemetry is a tool, and the level of care is the deciding factor. If a patient is sick or injured and does not require ICU but requires more maintenance than a medical floor can provide, they need to be in these types of units. Progressive care nurses are critical care nurses practicing outside the walls of the ICU. I hope this explanation helps.