Neurocritical Care Fellowship

Our Neurocritical Care Unit (NCCU) at the University of Utah is a 23-bed unit with an average daily census of 18 patients and is the busiest intensive care unit within the U of U Health system.  

The NCCU features state-of-the-art technology, including spacious, well-lit, and well-stocked ICU rooms with in-room patient lifts and movable equipment booms. The NCCU is equipped with advanced equipment such as the OmniTom™ portable CT scanner, bronchoscopy cart (standard and disposable bronchoscopes), GlideScope™ video intubation equipment, SonoSite™ ultrasound, Vigileo™ cardiac output monitors, as well as equipment for percutaneous tracheostomy placement.  

Advanced neuromonitoring tools that are available in the NCCU include the Codman™ ICP monitor, Codman Microsensor™ EVD/ICP combo monitor, Licox™ brain tissue oxygenation monitor, Hemedex™ cerebral blood flow monitor, external ventricular drains (EVDs), lumbar CSF drains, and Moberg™ CNS monitors. The NCCU enjoys access to 16 Cadwell™continuous EEG machines, and the state-of-the-art Ceribell™ rapid EEG device for detection of status epilepticus.

A multidisciplinary medical team of seven neurocritical care physicians from the Departments of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Anesthesiology staffs the NCCU with 24-hour, in-house coverage. Our Advanced Practice Clinician (APC) team of eight members (both nurse practitioners and physician assistants) has two members present during day shifts and one member on evening/swing shifts three days a week. There are two residents staffing the NCCU at all times (one from neurosurgery and one from neurology), as well as off-service trainees from ear, nose, and throat and surgical critical care. The NCCU has a core team of six pharmacists, and there are two pharmacists present on day shifts and one present on evening/swing shifts during the weekdays. There is also a core team of twelve respiratory therapists (RTs) that are exclusively stationed in the NCCU, enabling the subspecialty expertise in ventilator management of brain-injured patients. The NCCU also hosts learners from various backgrounds, including medical students (neurology, neurosurgery, and critical care rotations) as well as nurse practitioner and physician assistant students.  

The NCCU employs a multidisciplinary model of daily rounds, which are led by the neurocritical care physician. The rounding team includes APCs, resident physicians, bedside nurses, pharmacists, respiratory therapists, a certified nutritionist, and medical students and visiting learners. NCCU rounds employ a novel nurse-led format that enables enhanced cohesion and synchrony across the medical and nursing teams.