What's it like in the VIP wing of a hospital?

[marienm, RN, CCRN]

Current events have made me wonder: What's it like to work on a VIP unit? I'm not looking for celebrity/VIP gossip here, and of course no one should compromise security protocols, but has anyone done it? It it, like 1:1 nursing no matter the patient's acuity? What happens if you, say, blow the VIP's IV? Does security clear the halls if the VIP needs to go to MRI, or is there a special VIP MRI suite? Is there a separate kitchen for security purposes with a private chef? I assume you need security clearance if the VIP is a head of state, but is someone watching your every move as you put in a foley?

Indulge my curiosity!

[amoLucia]

And the bed???  LOL

[marienm, RN, CCRN]

2 hours ago, amoLucia said:

 Worked in VERY elite area as an LPN and she had had some very, very VIP pts. Never revealed anything except to say, "they had holes in their underwear too".

Yeah, I'm definitely not looking for any gossip about any patient. I'm appreciating the stories of how the VIP area integrates with the rest of the hospital  (Or, in PA, doesn't!). I definitely hadn't thought about VIPs bringing in their own security, for example. And I assume the security is there to protect the client's privacy?  Not to make sure no one tampers with the tube feed?

[Corey Narry, MSN, RN, NP]

4 hours ago, amoLucia said:

I know there's always been some special VIP services in all hospitals for 'special' pts like families of physicians & hosp admins, local politicians, semi famous celebrities, etc. Some special services were provided, but not so 'over-the-top' as U of P's. Personally, I think it's obscene, and to be honest, it has lowered my opinion of the facility's reputation. It has long been highly respected for its excellent clinical services, but now ... (And I'm local to U of P.)

Maybe it's just me ...

Thing is, they only get a "special room".  It doesn't say for instance that if they need services such as Radiology (CT Scan, MRI), Surgery, IR, etc that there is a special suite for them.  They still go in the same procedural areas as the rest of HUP's patients.  It seems more suited to patients who are only in the hospital for a short period of time for minor things.  I'm assuming if their condition deteriorates and need critical care, there is no special ICU in that wing.  So it does seem silly given that the trend now is that hospitals are moving towards all-private rooms for all patients anyway. 

I've had local celebrities, philanthropists, and politician's family members as patients...never the same level of fame as Beyonce or Bill Clinton though. The hospital I worked for didn't have a special area for them so they are in the same areas as the other patients with equal acuity and medical conditions.  It is however a known fact that providers and nurses are conditioned to behave differently when a patient is a VIP.  Whether that is good or bad is subject to one's opinion but there is a growing consensus that VIP status can actually lead to unnecessary procedures and tests, hence, a higher risk for more complications.

https://www.journalofhospitalmedicine.com/jhospmed/article/132083/hospital-medicine/perceived-safety-and-value-inpatient-very-important-person

[amoLucia]

Hmmmm. I wonder if they get special visiting privileges with C19?

[MunoRN, RN]

34 minutes ago, juan de la cruz said:

Thing is, they only get a "special room".  It doesn't say for instance that if they need services such as Radiology (CT Scan, MRI), Surgery, IR, etc that there is a special suite for them.  They still go in the same procedural areas as the rest of HUP's patients.  It seems more suited to patients who are only in the hospital for a short period of time for minor things.  I'm assuming if their condition deteriorates and need critical care, there is no special ICU in that wing.  So it does seem silly given that the trend now is that hospitals are moving towards all-private rooms for all patients anyway. 

I've had local celebrities, philanthropists, and politician's family members as patients...never the same level of fame as Beyonce or Bill Clinton though. The hospital I worked for didn't have a special area for them so they are in the same areas as the other patients with equal acuity and medical conditions.  It is however a known fact that providers and nurses are conditioned to behave differently when a patient is a VIP.  Whether that is good or bad is subject to one's opinion but there is a growing consensus that VIP status can actually lead to unnecessary procedures and tests, hence, a higher risk for more complications.

https://www.journalofhospitalmedicine.com/jhospmed/article/132083/hospital-medicine/perceived-safety-and-value-inpatient-very-important-person

According to UPenn's description of "The Pavillion" it does actually provide a different level of care than is provided to other patients, it's not just that the rooms look nicer or that the food is fancier.  To your points, they appear to state that you can actually receive ICU level care, surgeries, and IR procedures, separate from where the 'regular' patients get these services in "The Pavillion".  

https://www.pennmedicine.org/for-patients-and-visitors/penn-medicine-locations/hospital-of-the-university-of-pennsylvania/pavilion

[Corey Narry, MSN, RN, NP]

5 minutes ago, MunoRN said:

According to UPenn's description of "The Pavillion" it does actually provide a different level of care than is provided to other patients, it's not just that the rooms look nicer or that the food is fancier.  To your points, they appear to state that you can actually receive ICU level care, surgeries, and IR procedures, separate from where the 'regular' patients get these services in "The Pavillion".  

Where does it say that in the original link? That link you provided is not the same VIP area that @NRSKarenRN provided.  This new structure opening in 2021 is their new wing for any patient admitted to HUP.  That's not unusual. Many academic centers are building new hospital wings with state of the art facilities.
 

[amoLucia]

Slippery slope here?

[sevensonnets]

Back in the early 1980's we took care of the brother of a certain middle eastern king who came with an entourage of about 200 people, including security, numerous wives, governesses for the children, personal physicians, cooks, a number of soccer players, and several child slaves. An entire wing of a floor was sealed off for two weeks. We had to be checked out by the FBI to work with him and there were snipers on the roof of the building.

[amoLucia]

Makes me wonder - who will be assigned to staff those special units?

[Corey Narry, MSN, RN, NP]

Flex rooms are not new.  I've known of hospitals adopting it 10 years ago.  They are basically rooms that can accommodate fluctuating acuity and in the one I was familiar with the patients admitted had Cardiac Surgery.  They are admitted to the same room immediately after surgery and stay there to discharge.  I'm sure it helps with patient satisfaction but is a challenge for staffing because the pool of nurses in that unit has to be cross trained for the fluctuation in their patients' acuity.

[Professor X, MSN, RN]

I worked in a hospital in the early 2000's that had a VIP wing. For extra cash, patients got private duty nurse, real food from real dishes, a "suite" area, obviously private room, with nicer furniture that "hid" medical equipment. Basically what L&D  suites look like. None of it contributed to better outcomes except not sharing your nurse with 6 others. Oh---and the nurses assigned to the rooms had to have a certain look and demeanor. Won't go into details. You know what I mean. 

The problem arose when the hospital was full and we had to put overflow "regular" people in the VIP suites without charging them extra.  Then they never wanted anything else and felt they were being cheated if they got placed in the regular wards. If they got moved to a regular ward when a room opened up, they pitched a fit. 

Ultimately the hospital divided the suites into two regular private rooms and did away with the VIP service.

I never saw an actual VIP use the suites, however. Many well known entertainers, athletes, CEOS etc were treated at the hospital, they accepted placement in the wards. The people who insisted on being treated like VIPs were just wealthy, or wanted us to think they were. 

[HiddencatBSN, BSN]

I think I’d feel angry all the time if I worked in a VIP suite like that.