A team member is placing a masking on a patients face in an operating room.

Advanced care when you or a loved one need it most

Critical Care

High-level care to improve patient outcomes.

When an illness or injury threatens your life or the life of a loved one, you can rely on Novant Health critical care providers to offer round-the-clock monitoring and prompt medical response to achieve the best outcomes possible. Our critical care providers are wholly devoted not just to critical care, but to specific intensive care units (ICUs) within it. A cardiovascular ICU provider cares only for patients with conditions involving heart function, and understands the ins and outs of this care. A provider in the pediatric ICU is dedicated to helping our younger patients and their caregivers through difficult childhood health situations. Whatever your critical care need, you can rest assured the Novant Health network is here to offer the most remarkable care available.

Learn about critical care services and where to find them.

Intensive Care (ICU)

If you or a loved one are faced with a sudden life-threatening medical condition, you can rely on Novant Health’s intensive care units (ICUs) to provide the specialized care required to speed recovery and enhance patient outcomes. Our ICUs are staffed by providers dedicated to intensive care. A low provider-to-patient ratio means monitoring is constant and care is available whenever it is needed. ICUs are located within Novant Health:

East Cooper Medical Center
Forsyth Medical Center
Huntersville Medical Center
Kernersville Medical Center
Matthews Medical Center
New Hanover Regional Medical Center
Presbyterian Medical Center
Thomasville Medical Center

Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU)

When babies are born prematurely or with a condition requiring an advanced level of care, Novant Health’s neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) stand ready. These units provide constant monitoring and specialized medical treatments to our very youngest patients. Board-certified neonatologists work alongside pediatricians, respiratory therapists, neonatal nurse practitioners, nutritionists, physical therapists, early intervention coordinators, social workers and others to meet the needs of our patients and their caregivers. NICUs are located at Novant Health:

East Cooper Medical Center (Level II)
Forsyth Medical Center (Level IIIB)
Huntersville Medical Center (Level III)
Health Matthews Medical Center (Level III)
New Hanover Regional Medical Center (Level IIIC)
Presbyterian Medical Center (Level IV)

Pediatric Intensive Care (PICU)

Offering the highest level of pediatric care available, Novant Health’s pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) treat babies, children and adolescents. Our intensive care physicians and nurses work alongside respiratory therapists, pharmacists, nutritionists and child-life specialists to care for children experiencing illnesses and recovering from surgical procedures. These services are available at Novant Health:

Presbyterian Medical Center (Hemby Children’s Hospital)
New Hanover Regional Medical Center (Betty H. Cameron Women’s & Children’s Hospital)

Cardiac Intensive Care (CICU)

Also referred to as coronary care, cardiac intensive care units (CICUs) are for patients experiencing life-threatening heart conditions including heart attacks, irregular heartbeats or heart failure. Patients can receive that care at Novant Health:

Forsyth Medical Center
New Hanover Regional Medical Center
Presbyterian Medical Center

Cardiovascular Surgical Intensive Care (CVSU; CVRU)

Also called a cardiovascular recovery unit (CVRU), a cardiovascular surgical intensive care unit (CVSU) cares for patients recovering from heart and chest surgeries. After these involved procedures, our dedicated providers offer intensive monitoring and attentive care. Available at Novant Health:

Forsyth Medical Center
New Hanover Regional Medical Center
Presbyterian Medical Center

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Team (ECMO)

Commonly referred to as ECMO, an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation machine is the most advanced form of life support available. It can do the work of a patient’s lungs, heart or both. This level of care requires highly skilled, dedicated providers to achieve the best outcomes possible. This care is available at Presbyterian Medical Center.

Neurosurgical Intensive Care (NSICU)

For patients recovering from brain surgery or other brain-related conditions such as strokes or aneurysms, neurosurgical intensive care units (NSICUs) provide the close monitoring every patient deserves. NSICU services are available at Novant Health:

Forsyth Medical Center
New Hanover Regional Medical Center
Presbyterian Medical Center

Step-Down or Intermediate Critical Care

Commonly referred to as step-down care, intermediate critical care units (ICCUs) are ideal for patients who do not need the level of care provided by an ICU but need more care than is offered on a general hospital unit. Step-down units serve patients who have left ICUs, CICUs and NSICUs. Step-down care is offered at Novant Health:

Ballantyne Medical Center (ICCU)
Forsyth Medical Center (ICCU and CICCU)
Huntersville Medical Center (ICCU and CICCU)
Kernersville Medical Center (ICCU)
Matthews Medical Center (ICCU)
New Hanover Regional Medical Center (ICCU and NICCU)
Presbyterian Medical Center (NICCU)

Specialty Care (SCU)

Surgical Trauma Intensive Care (STICU)

Patients needing advanced hemodynamic stabilization or post-operative monitoring after a surgical procedure are often cared for in a surgical trauma intensive care unit (STICU). This unit also serves patients recovering from traumatic injuries. These services are offered at New Hanover Regional Medical Center.

Tele-Intensive Care (Tele-ICU System)

This Novant Health department provides 24/7 tele-medicine support for all facilities delivering critical care. Regardless of where your loved one is being served, the providers at that facility will have round-the-clock access to intensive care physicians and intensivists who can collaborate on care.