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Centers & Medical Services

ECRMC ICU in Imperial Valley

Intensive Care from El Centro Regional Medical Center

Patients who are critically injured or ill will be treated in El Centro Regional Medical Center's Intensive Care Unit (ICU). This department is located on the second floor and consists of 12 patient rooms—five of which are outfitted as isolation rooms for patients who may be suffering from diseases that are highly contagious. The unit is also staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week by experienced physicians and nurses dedicated to providing vigilant and attentive care to ICU patients and their loved ones.

Visiting Hours
The ECRMC ICU is closed to visitors twice a day for shift changes.
Closed: 7:00 am - 8:30 am and 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Additionally, there is an ICU waiting area just outside the ICU entrance for families and friends of patients. This area is open 24 hours a day and allows visitors to receive updates on the condition of the patient they are visiting.

Visitor Guidelines & Tips

El Centro Regional Medical Center enforces several restrictions to meet ICU best practices and protect the health and well-being of the patients. The staff can review these rules with you on your first visit to see a patient, or you can call the facility ahead of time for clarification.

These guidelines include:

  • Only two visitors are allowed into the ICU, per patient, at a time.
  • Visitors must be at least 16 years old.
  • Visits are limited to 10 minutes.
  • Outside food or drink for the patient is prohibited.
  • Visitors with signs of infectious diseases are prohibited.
  • Visitors will be asked to leave a phone number for when the hospital needs to contact you.

Other tips for visitors to keep in mind include:

  • It's recommended and encouraged that families use a notepad to record questions and concerns they may have about their loved one's care. It's also best to appoint a family spokesperson to avoid confusion and ensure clear communication with doctors and staff.
  • Communicating with patients in ICU can be difficult as many of them are not able to speak. Remember to ask them to use signals when they can (like thumbs up or down), ask simple yes or no questions, or present a hospital-provided whiteboard for them to write on. Above all, remember to stay positive and calm when speaking ICU patients.
  • Communication with patients is encouraged, even when it may seem like the patient cannot hear you. Speaking to them, reading to them, and even playing music can be beneficial to patients.
  • The ICU is a busy place and noise is often unavoidable. Because of this, many patients have trouble sleeping and can experience confusion and disorientation (sometimes known as "ICU psychosis"). This is why clear, positive communication with patients is so important. As treatment progresses, medication can decrease and sleep should improve, which will help the patient become more aware and cognizant.
  • There may be times when the staff asks visitors to step out of the room. This is to respect the patient's privacy and administer care and ECRMC asks that visitors comply.
  • Loved ones who have family members in the ICU are also encouraged to take care of themselves and be mindful of their own health. It is critical that patients have a strong and healthy support system around them. Social workers and chaplains are available to assist patient families and support them through this critical time.

If you have more questions about visiting a loved one. Call 760.339.7100 today.