Intermediate Care Ward Guidelines (IMC)

The following outlines the standard operating procedures of the University of Illinois Intermediate Care Ward

PDF:  IMC GUIDELINES PDF

Procedures:

  1. Intermediate Care
    1. The IMC technicians are responsible for the nursing care and treatments of the patients within the IMC ward.
    2. The IMC technicians are responsible for consulting and communicating with clinicians regarding patient status.
    3. The IMC technicians are not allowed to leave IMC unattended.
    4. Gloves must be worn for all patients and changed between patients.

  2. Admission to Intermediate Care Ward
    1. Every patient admitted into the IMC will have a completed cage card with the patient sticker, code status, body weight, and presenting complaint or tentative diagnosis. The receiving service is responsible for updating the cage card.
    2. Each patient will have a completed instinct treatment sheet, including patient alerts, walks, meals, fluids, medications, etc.
    3. The clinician or student must communicate verbally with the IMC technician about patient status and plan prior to placing the animal in the cage.
    4. Patients admitted to IMC during a major treatment hour (8 AM, 2 PM, 4 PM, 8 PM, 12 AM, or 2 AM) must have those treatments completed by the admitting service.
    5. Patients will be housed in a cage relative to size and disposition.
    6. All patients must have an appropriate colored ID neck band prior to admission into IMC.
      1. CPR = Green
      2. DNR = Red
    7. Inform the IMC technician ahead of time regarding new patients for a cage assignment.
    8. Cages should be labeled with appropriate warnings when needed, i.e., aggressive, will bite, NPO, No Food, Food Allergies, Seizure Watch, etc.

  3. Hospitalization Guidelines
    1. The following are conditions, procedures, or therapies that cannot be managed in the Intermediate Care Ward due to the need for higher levels of monitoring, more advanced levels of technical support, and availability of equipment:
      1. Oxygen Therapy
      2. ECG Monitoring (intermittent or continuous)
      3. Direct Blood Pressure Monitoring / Arterial Catheters
      4. Thoracostomy Tubes
      5. Vasoactive Drug Therapy
      6. Insulin CRI/DKA
      7. Heparin CRI
      8. Parenteral Nutrition
      9. New Onset of Seizures or Cluster Seizures
    2. Point-of-care ultrasound will not be available in the IMC. If it is needed, the patient can be removed from IMC and taken to their individual services ward or borrowed from ER (not ICU). Use of the ER ultrasound will be charged for appropriately by the IMC staff.
    3. There may be flexibility for cases to be placed in Intermediate Care with prior Senior Clinician and IMC Supervisor approval, with an understanding that a discussion surrounding monitoring will occur with assigned clinician, area supervisor, senior clinician, and technicians.
      1. If there is concern by an IMC technician following admission of a patient or is a requirement of more advanced technical support and the primary service is not in agreement, the IMC technician will consult with the Critical Care resident or faculty on service.
      2. When a concern is raised that a patient needs to be housed in an area that differs from the above VTH standards of care due to finances, the clinician needs to communicate the following to the owner with documentation in the communication log:
        1. The standards of care recommended by the VTH
        2. The cost involved in both levels of are
        3. The limitations and risks involved in moving to a lower level of care
        4. Client approval of the decision

  4. Patient Orders
    1. Daily patient orders are to be completed by the clinician or student.
    2. The clinician and student name and phone number need to be included.
    3. Each patient will have a completed instinct treatment sheet, including patient alerts, walks, meals, fluids, medications, etc.
    4. Daily body weights will be performed on the IMC scale. Patients < 6 lbs should use the baby scale.
    5. Major Treatment Times: please see bottom of this page for treatments allowed
      1. Q24H – 8 AM
      2. Q12H – 8 AM, 8 PM
      3. Q8H – 8 AM, 4 PM, 12 AM
      4. Q6H – 8 AM, 2 PM, 8 PM, 2 AM
      5. Q4H – 8 AM, 12 PM, 4 PM, 8 PM, 12 AM, 4 AM
    6. Any additional changes can be made by the technician with verbal orders from the clinician (not a student). Clinicians should check Instinct when able to ensure the orders are appropriate.
    7. Treatments should not be changed or altered during a major treatment time.
    8. Any comments, changes, or clinician communication will be marked as a progress note and recorded on Instinct by all individuals who encounter the patient.

  5. Patient Belongings
    1. Client belongings should not be left with a patient; this includes collars, leashes, and crates. If an owner insists on leaving an item (such as a blanket or toy), the clinician on the case will be responsible for returning these belongings to owners.
    2. Owners must be aware of the possible loss of items to which the IMC staff are not held accountable.
    3. Harnesses and leashes are provided by the hospital.
    4. Attempts will be made to launder personal bedding; however, owners should be made aware that their belongings may be returned soiled.
    5. Any patient drugs provided to the owner must be taken to the Medication Dispensary. The pharmacist will use their discretion on whether the drugs can be used in the hospital.

  6. Visitation Guidelines
    1. No owners will be allowed to visit patients in IMC.
    2. Patients that leave the IMC Ward for owner visits during major treatment times must have treatments completed by the student or clinician upon their return.

  7. Discharge
    1. When a patient is discharging to the owner, an IMC technician must be noted so charges can be entered, the patient prepared, and controlled substances discarded.
      1. Charges and the level of care will be determined and finalized by the IMC technician.
      2. Any patient medications should be returned to the Medication Dispensary.
    2. If a patient has died or been euthanized, it is the responsibility of the student, intern, or resident to take the appropriate measures to dispose of the body, depending on the owner’s wishes.
    3. With supervisor and clinician approval, the IMC technician can request that a patient move to service wards if there are no available cages in the IMC.

  8. Case Responsibility
    1. Students are to complete 8 AM treatments daily. Patients must also be weighed and walked prior to service rounds.
    2. If students are unable to finish 8 AM treatments prior to service rounds, the IMC technician should be alerted, and the student is responsible for the treatments after rounds have finished.

  9. Blood Work
    1. Students or clinicians are responsible for drawing and submitting samples to the lab.
    2. Students are responsible for ensuring that all lab work needed is requested in Vetstar, tubes are correctly labeled, and samples are submitted to clinical pathology.
    3. All lab work needed during times other than 8 AM should be written on the instinct treatment form.

  10. Charges
    1. IMC charges are based on the level of care the patient is receiving.
    2. Standard hospitalization fees are included within the level of care and are applied to all hospitalized patients.
    3. Additional procedure or supply fees may apply.

  11. Cleaning
    1. Please be courteous and pick up after yourselves as you use the IMC.
    2. Disinfect tables following use (Rescue located on counters)
    3. Needles and syringes go in the sharps containers.
    4. Place garbage, dirty towels, and bedding in the appropriate labeled bins.
    5. It is the responsibility of the person who removes a patient from IMC to break down the cage and return the remaining medications to the Medication Dispensary.
    6. An IMC technician must be alerted if there are any controlled medications to waste.

  12. Personal Belongings
    1. Backpacks, lunch bags, and other personal belongings are not permitted in IMC.
    2. No food or drink is allowed in IMC.
    3. Personal pets are NOT allowed to be housed in IMC.

Treatment Times

Q24H – 8 AM

      • Weights
      • TPRs (Temp, resp rate & character, MM/CRT, Pulse rate/Quality)
      • Medication Administration
      • Blood Pressure
      • Feeding
      • Full Wrap & Central Line/ PICC Line Bandage Change
      • Blood Glucose & PCV/TP

Q12H – 8 AM, 8 PM

      • Weights
      • TPRs (Temp, resp rate & character, MM/CRT, Pulse rate/Quality)
      • Medication Administration
      • Blood Pressure
      • Feeding
      • Blood Glucose & PCV/TP

Q8H – 8 AM, 4 PM, 12 AM

      • Weights
      • TPRs (Temp, resp rate & character, MM/CRT, Pulse rate/Quality)
      • Medication Administration
      • Blood Pressure
      • Feeding
      • NE, NG & PEG Tube Feedings
      • NE & NG Tube aspirations
      • Blood Glucose & PCV/TP

Q6H – 8 AM, 2 PM, 8 PM, 2 AM

      • Weights
      • TPRs (Temp, resp rate & character, MM/CRT, Pulse rate/Quality) case-by-case basis (level 4)
      • Medication Administration
      • Blood Pressure
      • Feeding
      • Walks
      • NE, NG & PEG Tube Feedings
      • NE & NG Tube aspirations
      • Ice Incisions, Warm Compress and PROM
      • Quantify Urine Output & U-Cath Care
      • Quantify JP/Red Top Drains & Drain Care
      • Central Line/PICC Line Care (Flushing unused ports)
      • Flush IVC (if patient is not on fluids)
      • Blood Glucose & PCV/TP

Q4H – 8 AM, 12 PM, 4 PM, 8 PM, 12 AM, 4 AM

      • Walks
      • Feedings

Q1H-

      • Respiratory Rate/Character (Resp Watch)- additional fee
      • Patient Attitude
      • Wound Vac Monitoring


Keywords:
IMC, intermediate, hospitalization, admissions, patient 
Doc ID:
164570
Owned by:
Dardi M. in UofI College of Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital
Created:
2026-10-01
Updated:
2026-10-01
Sites:
University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital
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