Intensive care for the critically ill.

The intensive care unit treats people whose breathing, circulation or organs are failing or at risk of failing – after major operations or with serious illnesses. Monitoring is continuous.

  • Specialists around the clock
  • Intensive care and IMC
  • Covered by German statutory insurance

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  • 1–3days is how long many stay after major operations
  • Weekscan be needed with severe lung failure
  • 24 hstaffed by doctors and nurses
  • IMCmonitoring unit as an intermediate step

Guide values. How long someone stays in intensive care depends on the illness and how it progresses.

The intensive care unit

When the body needs support.

People are admitted to intensive care when their vital functions are at risk: after major operations, with blood poisoning (sepsis), with lung, heart or kidney failure, after resuscitation or a serious accident. Patients who need close monitoring but no organ support are often cared for on a monitoring unit, the intermediate care unit (IMC).

If a patient’s own breathing is not enough, a ventilator helps. Often a tight-fitting mask is sufficient, and the patient stays awake. In severe lung failure, a breathing tube is placed in the windpipe, usually under induced sleep. If ventilation lasts longer, a small opening in the windpipe can make weaning easier. As soon as the lungs recover, the support is reduced step by step.

In shock or sepsis, infusions and medicines that stabilise the circulation support the blood pressure; a thin catheter in an artery measures it with every heartbeat. If the kidneys fail, dialysis temporarily takes over their work. Induced sleep is as deep as necessary and as light as possible. After waking up, many patients are confused for a while – a delirium that usually subsides after a few days.

Intensive care medicine gives the body time to recover. Not every course is a good one. If a treatment can no longer achieve its goal, it is not continued at any cost: the focus then shifts to relief, peace and support for the relatives, in line with the patient’s wishes.

The treatment

What intensive care provides.

Monitoring

Heartbeat, blood pressure, oxygen, breathing and urine output are measured without a break. Changes are noticed early, often before they can be felt.

Supporting

Ventilation, circulatory support and dialysis temporarily take over what the lungs, heart or kidneys cannot manage on their own.

Accompanying

Relatives receive regular updates and are involved in important decisions, especially when the patient cannot speak for themselves.

The course

From admission to transfer.

No two stays are alike. But the stages are usually the same.

  1. Admission

    From the operating theatre, the emergency department or another ward. The team takes over with all findings and connects the monitoring.

  2. Stabilising

    Breathing and circulation are secured, and the cause of the deterioration is sought and treated, such as an infection or bleeding.

  3. Treating

    On ward rounds, doctors and nurses discuss progress, adjust the treatment and coordinate with the other specialist departments.

  4. Waking up

    Induced sleep and ventilation are reduced step by step. Physiotherapy starts as early as possible, often while the patient is still in bed.

  5. Transfer

    To the monitoring unit or a general ward. If specialties are needed that the hospital does not have, the patient is transferred to a centre that does.

  6. Afterwards

    Many people need weeks to regain their strength. Rehabilitation helps with this – after neurological illnesses, early rehabilitation as well.

Insurance

Treatment follows medical need.

Statutory health insurance

Intensive care is covered.

Treatment in the intensive care unit is part of hospital treatment and is therefore covered by German statutory health insurance. No application is needed.

In Wertheim, it takes place at the Bürgerspital, the hospital with a public healthcare mandate.

Private insurance or self-pay

Billed according to your policy.

Private health insurance and the Beihilfe allowance for civil servants cover medically necessary intensive care according to their tariffs. For privately insured and self-pay patients, the Main-Tauber-Klinik is there under the same roof.

Specialists

Your doctors at a glance.

The intensive care unit belongs to the Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine and works closely with the intensive care nursing team. Listed here are the specialists whom the clinics show with a focus on intensive care medicine.

  • Rachel DorschSpecialist in Anaesthesiology, pre-hospital emergency physician, physician responsible for transfusionWertheim
  • Maria Eckert-KufnerSpecialist in Anaesthesiology & Intensive Care Medicine, pre-hospital emergency physicianWertheim
  • Erando JubicaSpecialist in Anaesthesiology, pre-hospital emergency physicianWertheim
  • Mihai NitaSpecialist in AnaesthesiologyWertheim

Locations

Where treatment takes place.

Each clinic shows on its own website how the treatment works there.

Frequently asked questions

Good to know.

Can we visit our relative?

Yes, visits are important and possible by arrangement with the team; usually no more than two people come to the bedside at a time. Hands are disinfected before and after the visit. It is best to discuss with the unit beforehand whether children can come along.

Can my relative hear me during induced sleep?

That cannot be said for certain. Some people later remember voices or touch. Do talk to them, hold their hand, tell them about home – familiar voices can be soothing.

Why do the machines beep so often?

The monitors report every deviation, including harmless ones: an empty drip, a movement, a sensor that has slipped. The team can tell from the signal what is urgent. Do ask if something worries you.

Who provides information about the patient’s condition?

The doctors on the unit, in regular conversations. Because of medical confidentiality, often only limited information can be given over the phone. It helps to name one contact person in the family who keeps the others informed.

Who decides if the patient cannot do so themselves?

What counts is the patient’s own will. The team should therefore receive any advance directive or lasting power of attorney early on. Since 2023, spouses in Germany may represent their partner in health matters for a limited period, even without a power of attorney. Relatives are asked what the person would have wanted – they do not bear the burden of the decision alone.

How long does ventilation last?

After an operation often only hours, with severe lung failure days to weeks. Ventilation is kept as short as possible and reduced step by step as soon as the lungs recover.

What is delirium?

A temporary state of confusion that is common in intensive care units, especially in older people and after prolonged induced sleep. Glasses, hearing aids, familiar voices and a clear day–night rhythm help with orientation. Delirium usually subsides after a few days.

What happens after intensive care?

Usually a move to the monitoring unit or a general ward, and later often to rehabilitation. Muscle weakness, exhaustion, sleep problems or distressing memories can last for weeks. Talk about it – help is available for this too.

Consultation

Personal consultation.

Describe your request – the right clinic will get back to you.

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What patients say about us.

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    Wow, was für ein erster Eindruck! Dr. Frank Gruner, dessen Professionalität von jahrelanger Erfahrung zeugt, war äußerst verständlich und menschlich (was mir sehr wichtig war). Er verstand meine Bedürfnisse, und seine Erklärungen und Anweisungen entsprachen genau meinen Vorstellungen. Die Patientenberaterin Jennifer war mit ihrem Charme ebenfalls eine große Hilfe und erklärte mir alles Notwendige und den weiteren Ablauf. Auch die Mitarbeiter am Empfang waren sehr höflich und freundlich. Ich melde mich nach der Operation mit meinen Eindrücken zurück. Vielen Dank an alle!

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    Hervorragende Behandlung. Von der ersten Beratung bis zur Nachsorge hat mir Dr. Koch stets ein sehr gutes Gefühl vermittelt. Ich litt jahrelang unter einer echten Gynäkomastie, nach der OP kann sich das Ergebnis sehen lassen, mein Selbstbewusstsein ist endlich zurückgekehrt. Ich kann die Alster Klinik jedem empfehlen, der schon lange mit dem Gedanken spielt sich operieren zu lassen.

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