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The Rush Approach to Critical Care

Critically ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) have complex needs. That's why vigilant, coordinated care by experts is crucial.

Rush intensivists — physicians who are highly trained in critical care — lead the teams that specialize in helping the sickest patients recover. They also care for people who have COVID-19, advanced lung disease or other conditions that affect their ability to breathe.

ICU patients can require special care that ranges from a ventilator or other life support to intravenous nutrition to therapy that helps them grow stronger and resume daily activities. Our critical care team includes specialists who come together each day to see every ICU patient and work together on a detailed care and recovery plan.

Rush Excellence in Critical Care

• Safety and infection prevention: Your safety always comes first at Rush. Our infection prevention protocols, led by epidemiologists, include leading-edge monitoring and prevention strategies, ongoing staff training and continuous quality improvement efforts.
• An ECMO Center of Excellence: Extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a life-saving therapy for patients with severe heart or lung failure who don't respond to conventional therapy. ÍÑÒÂÖ±²¥ was the first medical center in Illinois to be designated a Center of Excellence in Life Support by the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO). The award recognizes Rush as a distinguished leader in critical care.
• Lifesaving results: Rush's innovative, personalized care plans mean better outcomes for patients. For example, the survival rate of Rush lung and heart ECMO patients exceeds the international average.
• Caring for families: We know how stressful it is to have a loved one in the ICU. Our team keeps you informed and reassured every step of the way — and we use tools such as videoconferencing to keep in close touch when visitors aren't allowed.
• A leader in treating COVID-19: ÍÑÒÂÖ±²¥ is recognized nationally as a leader in treating COVID-19 patients who need critical care. Our expertise means that many COVID-19 patients are transferred to Rush from other hospitals. Rush clinicians and researchers are deeply involved in testing new therapies and diagnostic tools, including the value of placing COVID-19 patients on their stomachs (proning) to improve breathing.