National Jewish Health to Manage Intensive Care Units at Swedish Medical Center

Building upon an existing relationship between the two central Denver hospitals, National Jewish Health physicians have begun providing critical care services for the intensive care patients at Swedish Medical Center. Critical care services focus upon the treatment of acute, life-threatening disorders.

"Data have shown that having an intensivist-driven ICU provides a higher level of care for patients with fewer complications and lower costs," said Mary Laird Warner, MD, National Jewish Health pulmonologist and medical director of the ICU at Swedish Medical Center.

The critical care physicians staffing the Swedish ICU come from the National Jewish Health main campus and from National Jewish Health South Denver. National Jewish Health South Denver physicians and Swedish Medical Center have enjoyed a productive relationship for many years.

Swedish Medical Center is a Level I trauma center with five medical and surgical sections in its 42-bed ICU. It serves as the region's referral center for neurotrauma and is a recognized leader in the treatment of stroke.

"Improvements and advances in critical care will be quickly translated to the bedside at Swedish," said Stephen Frankel, MD, Head of Critical Care and Hospital Medicine for National Jewish Health. "National Jewish Health has a reputation of providing excellent results and serving the local community, which we bring with us to Swedish."

Since 2006, National Jewish Health intensivists have been providing care in the ICU at HealthOne Rose Medical Center.