Creating an Intensive Care Unit From a Postanesthesia Care Unit for the COVID-19 Surge at the Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System.

Jarzebowski, Mary; Curran, Tom; Dorsey, Megan; Cederquist, William; Claar, Dru; Derrig, Elisa; Dick, Weston; Push, Katrina; Hausman, Mark; Lake, Tamar

Objectives To prepare for the predicted surge of patients with COVID-19 in Southeast Michigan, the US Department of Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System engineered, built, and staffed a 12-bed intensive care unit (ICU) from the existing postanesthesia care unit (PACU). Observations Considerations including floor planning, reversal of airflow, strict airborne precautions, sealing off a dedicated nursing station, and developing an infection control plan in an open care unit. A staffing model was created that included anesthesiologist intensivists, advanced practice providers, residents, certified registered nurse anesthetists, and perioperative nurses working alongside ICU trained nurses. Challenges arose in infection control, communication, mechanical ventilation using anesthesia machines, providing renal replacement therapy, and maintaining patient privacy in an open unit. Conclusions This article describes the setup, challenges, and solutions that allowed the creation of the PACU-ICU to help serve veterans and civilians during a time of unprecedented strain on the health care system due to COVID-19.