National Jewish Health to Manage ICU at Swedish Medical Center

Building upon an existing relationship between the two central Denver hospitals, National Jewish Health has begun managing critical care services for the five intensive care units (ICU) at HealthOne Swedish Medical Center. Critical care services focus upon the treatment of acute, life-threatening disorders. National Jewish Health intensivists began providing care on September 1.

"Data have shown that having an intensivist driven ICU provides a higher level of care for patients with fewer complications and lower costs," said Steven Frankel, MD, Division Head of Critical Care and Hospital Medicine for National Jewish Health.

National Jewish Health intensivists will be on-site at Swedish from 7am-7pm, seven days a week, and available to be at the bedside within 30 minutes at all other times. The critical care faculty staffing the Swedish ICUs 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 long and productive relationship for many years.

"Improvements and advances in critical care will be quickly translated to the bedside at Swedish," said Dr. Frankel. "National Jewish Health has an extensive reputation of providing results and serving the local community that we bring with us to Swedish."

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