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During the ICU

Below is some information to help you understand what to expect at Morristown Medical Center's ICU:

First Time Seeing Your Loved One in the ICU

Upon admission to the ICU the nurse will do an initial assessment, so your first visit may be delayed a little while.  Please review the video below to learn more about what to expect.

Virtual Bedside Visits via Zoom

Tablets (iPads) with Zoom are available for secure bedside virtual visits. To arrange a virtual visit, please call the ICU and the unit representative can assist you. We encourage you to review our virtual visit tip sheet before you Zoom. Learn more >

Your Role in Making Health Care Decisions & Understanding the Daily Plan of Care

Patient and Family Centered Care seeks to make family members an integral part of the ICU patient care team. There are four values that form the foundation of PFCC: Respect and Dignity, Participation, Information Sharing and Collaboration among families and health care providers.

ICU Patient and Family Guide

Our ICU Guide is your compass to understanding the care team.  It provides guidance on communication, facilities, parking, complimentary therapies as well as helpful resources related to self-care, disability and family leave and more. 

Society of Critical Care Medicine’s "Understanding Your ICU Stay" booklet

In addition to our ICU Guide, we encourage you to review the Society of Critical Care Medicine’s "Understanding Your ICU Stay" booklet.  This guide covers 13 topics in plain language, from life support options to machines commonly used in the ICU.  This guide helps patients and families feel more at ease in the ICU and make better informed decisions. 

Patient Communicator App

The Society of Critical Care Medicine has developed an app to assist families and caregivers with communicating to a critical care patient. There are many obstacles that may stand in the way of providing optimal patient-centered care. 

Features include:

  • A new diary function that allows patients to track their daily progress during and after a hospital stay
  • Translation capabilities that allow for two-way communication in 18 languages on a variety of topics, such as pain, basic needs, and moods
  • A scale that allows patients to identify where on the body they feel sensations of pain, itching, and nausea and express the intensity of these sensations
  • More than 30 translatable phrases that allow patients to express various needs related to their care and well-being
  • A glossary of terms to help educate patients and families about the intensive care unit
Group of adults in a support group

Thrive: ICU Survivors Peer Support Group

 Survivors of critical illness and their adult family members and caregivers can connect with others who are experiencing similar challenges during recovery. The group is led by social work staff and a peer lived experience volunteer.   Thrive is meeting virtually via secure videoconferencing. Please call 973-971-5699 to register at least one week prior to your first day attending the group.