Newton Medical Center's Intensive Care Unit was established in 1971 with funding provided by Bob and Florence Arnold. Their generous contributions and ongoing support over the years were not only instrumental in creating the Intensive Care Unit, but also have been a driving force in expanding and upgrading its capabilities. Ours is now a technologically advanced, state-of-the-art facility.
We are proud to honor the Arnolds by naming our intensive care unit for them.

Expert Care
Not only does our Intensive Care Unit boast impressive equipment, but our staff is equally distinctive. Our experienced on-staff physicians are assisted by specially trained nurses. Our nurses assigned to this area have met stringent requirements and bring years of ICU experience. ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) and PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) certification courses are provided to ensure current competency for these nurses. Continuing
education requirements also ensure up-to-date skills and knowledge.

The ten rooms in the ICU are recently remodeled and updated and surround the nurses' station, allowing patient visibility at all times plus continuous cardiac monitoring. Our advanced technical monitoring system is state of the art, assisting us in providing physicians with the information they need to give optimal care to their patients. The ICU layout and equipment allows our caring nurses to constantly stay in touch with the immediate needs of these special patients.

Our ICU nurses are genuinely concerned about the families as well as the patients under their care. They make every effort to be accessible for families' concerns and urge them to communicate when questions arise.

Commonly Asked Questions
What are the rules about patient visitation in the ICU?
Visitation is restricted to 2 visitors at a time and children under 12 are not allowed in the ICU rooms or waiting area. While we encourage love and support of family members and friends we ask that visitors are kept to a minimum. This area must have as little activity as possible and must be kept as uncongested as possible to help us maintain a quiet healing atmosphere.

Two family members at a time can visit at scheduled visiting periods, and two members at a time may stay in the ICU waiting area.Visitors must use the red phone at the ICU entrance prior to entering the unit. Ministers must check in
at the nurses' station prior to entering the room. All visitation is at the discretion of the ICU staff, keeping the patient's best interests in mind.

What is the Visitation Schedule?
Family members may visit any time with the exception of the following hours:
6 am – 8 am and 6 pm – 8 pm.

What personal items should I bring for my family member in ICU?
Personal toiletry items may be brought for the patient's comfort. Personal undergarments are encouraged, however, gowns or pajamas are not needed since the hospital provides them.

Can flowers be sent to ICU patients?
Flowers and gifts are more appropriate after the patient has been moved out of the unit. Since such items make maintaining a sterile environment difficult and tend to clutter the room (and we need total access to the patient), they are discouraged.

Where is a pay telephone...the cafeteria...a smoking area?
A pay phone located near the elevator outside the waiting area. The cafeteria is on the ground floor of the hospital. Smoking is allowed in designated areas only outside of the hospital. Smoking is not permitted within 50 feet of any entrance or exit of the hospital.