Froedtert Complexity Intervention Unit

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The Froedtert Complexity Intervention Unit filled a very important need in the Milwaukee community.

The facility, which was completed late last year, serves patients who have medical and psychiatric diagnoses too complex to be properly managed in either psych or medical units.

The integrated care provided by CIU units minimizes interruptions in both medical and psychiatric care. The specialty trained staff and designed space means both patients and staff are safer, reducing length of stay and minimizing staff burnout.

“We wanted to create a calming and safe environment that compliments the Froedtert standard of care that our medical team provides,” said Michelle Dempsey, project manager for Froedtert Hospital. “The project team needed to design a space that staff could work efficiently in while keeping the patients safe.”

Because the patients have multiple diagnoses, the unit size, staff spaces and social areas were designed with safety and integrated care in mind. The 16-bed unit features integrated headwalls that incorporate all gases, outlets and monitoring equipment out of reach of patients but easily and quickly accessed by staff.

Staff efficiencies and security features include clear lines of sight from nursing stations into all areas of the patient room, a dedicated staff lounge and quiet rooms.

Often patients in this unit are in bed most of the time, and patient rooms provide control of lighting and temperature, with additional acoustic control for privacy and comfort, as well as abundant access to natural light. There is also access to outdoor spaces for ambulatory patients and activity spaces for group therapy.