What does Intermediate Care (IMC) mean?

Patients are monitored on our observation ward (Intermediate Care, or IMC) until their blood pressure has sufficiently stabilized, or until dangerous cardiac arrhythmias have been controlled or eliminated. We also provide treatment for patients who, due to their acute or severe disease, require more intensive monitoring, treatment and care than can be delivered on a normal ward.

What types of conditions are treated on the IMC Ward?

The majority of patients on the IMC Ward are receiving treatment for one of the following conditions:

• Acute myocardial infarction
• Severe types of cardiac arrhythmia
• Severe decompensated heart failure in patients with impaired myocardial contractile function and/or severe heart valve disease.
• Severe systemic infections, such as those associated with e.g. endocarditis or pneumonia
• Acute renal failure

We also provide intensive care and monitoring for patients who have undergone:

• Complex interventions involving the coronary arteries
• Interventions involving the heart valves (TAVI, MitraClip)
• Pacemaker and ICD removal
• Vascular interventions (e.g. PTA for carotid artery disease)
• Other complex cardiac interventions performed under general anesthesia

IMC staffing and equipment

The Department of Cardiology's IMC unit comprises 8 beds (4 double rooms), all of which are fully equipped with complex monitoring equipment. The IMC is staffed by at least one physician and two specially-trained nursing staff at all times. Our special monitoring equipment continuously monitors blood pressure and breathing, and transmits these data to a central control unit inside the nurse's station.