Neuro Intensive Care Unit

WakeMed’s Neuro Intensive Care Unit (Neuro ICU) provides the highest level of care to patients who have had a complex neurosurgical procedure, complications from a stroke or a related traumatic brain or spinal cord injury. Our Neuro ICU is Wake County’s only intensive care unit designed specifically for neurosurgical and neurotrauma patients. Each year, more than 500 patients from across our region are admitted to this highly specialized unit.

Experienced, compassionate, family-focused medical team 

We understand the concern and anxiety that patients and families feel when loved ones are admitted to an intensive care unit. Our unit is small with 14 beds so that each patient benefits from around the clock monitoring and care from our seasoned nursing team. Because we focus solely on patients with neurological conditions, we provide individualized, personal care to each patient and their family. We strive to educate and keep families apprised of their loved one’s condition. We welcome family involvement, encouraging them to become active participants in the patient’s plan of care.

Our staff has decades of experience treating and caring for neuro patients. Our specialty trained critical care nurses are joined by a dedicated medical team that includes medical and surgical intensivists, neurosurgeons, neurologists, rehab specialists and therapists, chaplains, clinical case managers, infection control nurses and many more as needed so that patients have the best chance for recovery.

While patients are in our Neuro ICU, families and loved ones have access to our Critical Care & Surgery Waiting Room, located on the second floor, adjacent to all of our intensive care units. Our Critical Care & Surgery Waiting Room is a warm and supportive place to wait while your loved one is hospitalized.

Our Neuro ICU offers a collaborative, inclusive environment that is patient- and family-focused. It is our goal that patients achieve their highest recovery potential while in our care.

Constant observation using advanced monitoring

Our unit is fully outfitted with the latest equipment, allowing us to keep a close watch on patient progress. We monitor for intracranial pressure, perform transcranial Doppler studies and are adept at specialized procedures designed to keep patients safe and more comfortable while they heal.

Most patients stay in the unit for about five days, but some patients with more complex conditions may remain in the Neuro ICU for up to several weeks. Once they no longer need intensive care, most patients are transferred to our 38-bed Neuroscience Intermediate Care Unit, located on the fifth floor. This unit also has advanced monitoring capabilities.

eICU® Service

WakeMed's eICU, offers an additional level of support for your loved one in a WakeMed Critical Care unit. The eICU physician and nursing team use computers, cameras, microphones and software to observe critical care patients from an offsite location. They observe the patient and constantly review their data, looking for trends that may indicate a potential change in the patient's condition. The eICU often helps the in-hospital critical care team intervene before a patient's condition deteriorates. This sophisticated system provides yet another layer of expertise available to our valued patients.