What are the key differences between ICU and HDU?
The main difference between an intensive care (ICU) and high dependency unit (HDU) is the nurse-to-patient ratio.
Usually an ICU patient requires one-to-one nursing care, whilst a high dependency patient requires one nurse to every two patients. In contrast, on a normal ward two qualified nurses often care for up to 30 patients between them.
Whether a patient requires 1:1 or 1:2 nursing care depends on many factors including the number and nature of the organ support therapies they are receiving.
Also, ICUs are usually able to provide ventilation (on a breathing machine) and dialysis (for kidney failure). Most HDUs do not.
Some hospitals have separate intensive care and high dependency units. Other hospitals have combined units with a mixture of patients in one location.
In the latter case, a patient may ‘step down’ from being an ICU patient to being a HDU patient without moving units. They may move bed space to facilitate 1:2 care.
A coronary care unit (CCU) is a cardiac HDU but nursing ratio is normally 1:3. They also usually do not provide ventilation or dialysis.
Summary
We have described what are the key differences between ICU and HDU. We hope it has been helpful.
