Jersey Shore opens new CVICU to provide post-operative care for cardiac surgery patients

Jersey Shore University Medical Center recently unveiled the new CardioVascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) - a twelve bed critical care unit providing post-operative care for cardiac surgery patients, including those who receive traditional open heart surgery and newer, complex interventional cardiovascular procedures. With cardiac surgery outcomes that the Society of Thoracic Surgeons ranks amongst the top 15% in the nation, Jersey Shore's new CVICU delivers the most advanced care available for cardiovascular patients requiring intensive monitoring, with an emphasis on patient comfort and convenience.

The spacious 13,830 square foot CVICU unit provides a patient-focused experience in an environmentally friendly setting that has earned Jersey Shore Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design Gold (LEED). The CVICU is centrally located within the hospital for convenient access to both the operating room, and the post critical unit. CVICU patients benefit from the latest wireless technologies, allowing for increased mobility, while caregivers can closely monitor their condition. Patients rest in comfortable, pressure reducing mattresses. Each private room is equipped with a spacious family seating area, and features soothing color palettes for a truly healing experience. Additionally, the dedicated CVICU lounge area is a welcoming and comfortable respite for families and guests.

In addition to providing post operative care for traditional open heart surgeries, the CVICU was designed to address all the needs of patients undergoing new, minimally invasive technologies that continue to revolutionize cardiac care, including Transcatheter Aortic Valve (TAVR), a procedure for heart failure patients with limited alternatives, and Impella - a heart pump that provides immediate circulatory support for critical patients.

"This is an exciting time for the Meridian CardioVascular Network and Jersey Shore," notes Richard Neibart, M.D., chief of Cardiac Surgery at Jersey Shore. Our continued outstanding survival rates are a reflection of the first-rate expertise, professionalism, and collaboration of the entire team at Jersey Shore and throughout the Meridian CardioVascular Network. With the new CVICU, we continue to set our goals higher, ensuring that our patients and the community have access to the very best heart care, right here at Jersey Shore."

Steven G. Littleson, FACHE, president of Jersey Shore, remarks "The new CVICU signifies Jersey Shore's ongoing commitment to delivering the best cardiac care, close to home. The CVICU provides the latest patient care innovations in an environment that emphasizes comfort and compassion."