Health PEI closing Intensive Care Unit at PCH during internal medicine physician shortage

Faced with an internal medicine physician shortage, Health PEI is implementing a plan to close the Intensive Care Unit at Prince County Hospital during the shortage, and transition it to a Progressive Care Unit.  A Progressive Care Unit cares for patients who are very ill but not at the intensive care level.  Health PEI says patients who need more intense care will be stabilized and transferred to the QEH.  Officials will be assessing the capacity at QEH on a daily basis and will increase beds as necessary. Emergency patients will continue to be seen and assessed at PCH.  The new PCU service will be evaluated in the weeks and months ahead. Health PEI says it will continue with efforts to recruit and increase the number of internists at PCH.