Cardiac Critical Care and Step-Down Units

New Hanover Regional Medical Center's Heart Center has units specifically designed for the different needs of heart patients, from those who need the most intensive monitoring to those who are well on their way to recovery and preparing to go home.

Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU)

Immediately after open-heart surgery, patients are taken to the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU).  The 14-bed unit provides advanced, intensive monitoring.  Patients typically stay in the intensive care unit for 24 to 48 hours.

Surgical Telemetry Unit

After patients are stabilized in the CVICU, they are taken to the Surgical Telemetry Unit.  Here, specially trained staff continue to monitor the patient's progress, start rehabilitation and prepare the patient for discharge.

Coronary Care Unit

The 16-bed Coronary Care Unit is the intensive care unit that specializes in caring for patients with serious heart problems that don't require heart surgery, but may require treatment in the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory.  Patients receive continuous monitoring while receiving treatment.  When their conditions are stabilized, patients are moved to the Cardiac Medical Telemetry Unit.

Cardiac Medical Telemetry Unit

The Cardiac Medical Telemetry Unit cares for heart patients who are being treated with medication, rather than surgery.  Patients come to the unit once their condition is stabilized.  The electrical activity of their heart is monitored and they receive rehabilitation preparing them to go home.