October 2024

REHABILITATION

GROUNDBREAKING POST-INTENSIVE CARE UNIT CLINIC LAUNCHES AT MARIANJOY

Featuring: Jeffrey Huml, MD and Melanie Ann Stearns, MD

We’re excited to announce the Post-intensive Care Unit Clinic on Northwestern Medicine Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital campus. This initiative, spearheaded by staff from Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital and Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital, aims to address the multifaceted challenges of post-intensive care syndrome (PICS).
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Notably, this clinic is one of only a few of its kind in the U.S. Key personnel involved in this endeavor include Jeffrey Huml, MD, clinical assistant professor of General Internal Medicine at Northwestern Medicine, Melanie Ann Stearns, MD, physiatrist at Marianjoy, and Anne Lindstrom, director of Operations at Marianjoy.

Addressing PICS
Despite advances in critical care that have significantly improved ICU survival rates, many patients encounter substantial physical, cognitive and psychological difficulties post-discharge. These symptoms can severely impede patients’ ability to regain full functionality and adapt to their post-ICU lives.

PICS also extends to family members and caregivers, known as PICS-F, manifesting as anxiety, depression, stress, grief, sleep disturbances and PTSD. The unexpected stress of supporting a critically ill loved one can have profound psychological impacts.
Recent studies underscore the prevalence of PICS, with 60% of patients exhibiting symptoms three months post-discharge, 50% continuing to experience symptoms at six months, and 36% of septic patients developing neurological complications.

ICU-acquired weakness is notably prevalent, affecting 33% of patients on ventilators, 50% of sepsis patients, and up to 50% of patients with ICU stays exceeding one week.

A Holistic Approach to Post-ICU Clinic Offerings
The Post-ICU Clinic aims to address these challenges through a comprehensive approach that focuses on cognitive, emotional, and functional recovery. The clinic’s objectives include:

  • Facilitating and coordinating post-ICU care
  • Easing the transition from hospital to home
  • Providing cognitive rehabilitation and mental health treatment

The clinic will use a multidisciplinary care model, with physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians collaborating closely with referring physicians to deliver holistic care. It will serve patients discharged from any ICU within Northwestern Medicine, as well as their family members and caregivers experiencing symptoms related to critical illness.

“We have a moral obligation to our patients who walked out our doors, to ensure they can reintegrate into society with confidence,” says Dr. Huml. “This is a career-defining moment for us to provide a safe space for those who are struggling to seek help and feel good about it. We saved them; we need to continue to help them navigate their journey throughout their entire recovery.”
Jeffrey Huml, MD, clinical assistant professor of General Internal Medicine at Northwestern Medicine
Melanie Ann Stearns, MD, physiatrist at Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital.

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Northwestern Medicine welcomes the opportunity to collaborate with you in caring for your patients. ​

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