Our Cardiothoracic Unit (CTU) is in a new space with a new name. Tufts Medical Center's new Cardiac Surgery Intensive Care Unit (CSICU) received the approval of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to open the 12-bed, state-of-the-art cardiac surgical Intensive Care Unit, which occupies nearly 11,000 square feet of space on Farnsworth 6 and a small corner of Pratt 6.
“Tufts Medical Center and our CardioVascular Center have assembled a world-class team to manage the most complex of patients. Now they will have the facilities to match and support that extraordinary care,” says Chief Operating Officer Diana Richardson.
The new high-tech CSICU opened Wednesday, May 11 to address a significant shortage of adult critical care capacity. The tranquil space, painted in warm colors of blue and green, was designed not only to make patients feel at home but their family members as well. Each patient room has a dedicated bathroom, is significant in size and includes a family zone along with a sleeper chair for overnight stays.
Fred Chen, MD, PHD, Chief of Cardiac Surgery, called the new CSICU a “sacred space to care for the sickest of the sick.” With huge advancements in cardiovascular critical care, advanced treatment for the most complex cases will take place here, including cardiothoracic and vascular treatments, ventricular assist device implants and heart transplants.
With 12 additional ICU beds in which to care for critically ill heart patients, Tufts Medical Center will increase the number of adult ICU beds at the hospital to 60. Another six cardiac surgery ICU beds are scheduled to open on the unit in July 2023.
The family and visitor lounge is situated at the entrance of the unit decorated in soft tones of blue.
“A heart felt thank you to all of the clinical staff who spent numerous hours together with our Facilities team making multiple decisions with the best interests of our patients, their family and colleagues in mind. Due to their efforts, the result is outstanding,” says Therese Hudson-Jinks, Tufts Medical Center’s Chief Nursing Officer and Chief Patient Experience Officer.
