Proposals for the direction and management of its Intensive Care Unit

Palos Health is seeking proposals for the direction and management of its Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Palos Hospital is a 425 bed community-based hospital, part of Palos Health, located in southwest suburban Chicago. We have an array of medical and surgical services including a cardiovascular surgical department. Palos has a newer 36-bed ICU currently staffed for 22 patients with expansion planning underway. We have an active and separate Telemetry Unit as well as a Cardiovascular Critical Care Unit. Our nursing staff is exceptional., In 2015, this unit was awarded the Gold Level Beacon of Excellence Award, one of only 35 ICUs in the U.S. to achieve this status.

Historic daily volume for this unit is 14 to 16 patients with a median of 19 and an average length of stay of 1.96 days. Admissions  originate from the Emergency Department, postoperatively and with transfers from lower levels of care. Although the majority of patient admissions to the unit occur between 9 AM and 6 PM, nighttime admissions are common. Currently, patients are managed by private Intensivists, although the patient’s primary care provider is encouraged.

Scope of Work:  Palos Health is intending to comply fully with Leapfrog standards for the ICUs and satisfy all of the current Leapfrog criteria with regard to staffing and response requirements. A highly qualified Intensivist will need to be present exclusively in the ICU for eight hours per day, seven days per week but be immediately accessible and accountable 24/7. Intensivists in the group should have experience in managing all aspects of critical care as well as management experience. References, experience level, skills and training should be consistent with the potential for an academic appointment. Various economic proposals will be entertained including employment and independent contractor models.

Please submit proposals to intensivistrfp@paloshealth.com by November 12, 2018.