Palmdale Regional Adds New Service for Critically Ill Patients

June 03, 2019
New ICU program launched at Palmdale

Palmdale Regional has entered into an agreement with Sound Physicians Critical Care service to provide a comprehensive Intensive Care Unit (ICU) program, including 12-hour daytime in-house intensivist staffing (all board-certified physicians) and a robust quality management program.

Sound Critical Care (SCC) is a nationally recognized leader in critical care medicine that serves over 30 ICU programs across the country, including numerous large, high-acuity facilities. Palmdale and SCC share the common goals of advancing clinical quality and outcomes for patients, improving efficiency and enhancing the patient care experience in the hospital, all while working within a team environment.

Physicians will continue to admit and care for ICU patients with the critical care service providing consultation and co-management. The SCC quality program will focus on multidisciplinary rounding, a team-based quality improvement program and implementation of evidence-based guidelines.

“Research shows that outcomes, mortality rates and lengths of stay are all improved when care is managed in this way,” says Syed Ahmed, MD, who has joined Sound Physicians to provide both clinical care and leadership of the program as the ICU Medical Director.

Ahmed also emphasizes that intensivists are an important resource for family members waiting for news of their loved ones. “We have noticed that families are happier because specially trained physicians are available to communicate with them about the patient’s condition,” says Ahmed. “The ICU nurses are also happy to have intensivists here from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week to help provide clinical acute care to the patients.”

“Our goal is to always provide the best possible care for our patients and to give the highest quality services to those patients who are the most vulnerable,” says Richard Allen, CEO of​ Palmdale Regional, about the recently launched program.

Joining Dr. Ahmed in providing coverage are Imran Sharief, MD, and Reza Kermani, MD, all fellowship trained physicians.