About

The Neurosciences Critical Care Program entails a multi-disciplinary approach in acute neurocritical care with collaborated efforts from the Departments of Neurology, Anesthesiology & Peri-Operative Medicine, Neurological Surgery, Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine, the OHSU Stroke Center and Neuro-Interventional Radiology. The Neurosciences Critical Care Program has become the cornerstone of a well-integrated and cohesive program at OHSU. The population of patients in the Neurosciences ICU is diverse and includes any critically ill patient with multi-system disease and neurological dysfunction.

In addition to excellent physician leadership, this unit also has experienced nurses trained in neuro-injury, physician assistants, pharmacists, nutritionists, physical therapists, social workers, case manager and palliative care. This highly skilled ancillary staff has an enthusiastic spirit that is focused on providing our patients the best possible experience. This collaborative model adds enormous strength in providing excellence in patient care, as well as a unique educational and training environment. Our goal is to support you the community by providing the level of service your patients require and working closely with you to ensure the best possible outcomes following discharge.

Our objectives are:

Maintain a well-integrated and cohesive multidisciplinary approach in the Acute Neurosciences Critical Care Program that would entail support jointly from the Departments of Neurology, Anesthesiology and Peri-Operative Medicine, Neurological Surgery, Critical Care Medicine, the Stroke service and Neuroradiology.  Faculty members in the program are fully trained neurointensivists and critical care physicians from the Departments of Neurology, Anesthesiology and Peri-Operative Medicine and Pulmonary/Critical Care.

Develop a referral base from surrounding private and city hospitals for the specialized care of patients requiring acute neurological and neurosurgical critical care with teaching and outreach programs for regional Emergency Room physicians, internists, general neurologists, Emergency Medical Team (EMT) personnel to enhance response time in thrombolytic therapy for ischemic strokes and other acute brain injuries. Develop outreach programs to affiliate hospitals and other primary and secondary regional medical care centers for Stroke/acute brain injury awareness through invited lectures and seminars. 

Participate in ongoing multi-center clinical trials funded by National Institutes of Health, Pharmaceutical companies, the institutional GCRC and the Department of Epidemiology/Biostatistics for outcomes research. Themes would include neuromonitoring techniques, neuroprotective agents in ischemic brain injury and other therapeutic strategies in ameliorating brain injury.