Sierra View ICU Ready to Better Serve its Community

Porterville, CA March 14, 2017: To better serve patients in the Intensive Care Unit, Sierra View Medical Center welcomed a team of five intensivists in December of 2016. The Oak Grove Intensivist team has allowed the SVMC ICU to reduce complications and allow for shorter lengths of stay for critically ill patients by offering expert care.

An intensivist, or critical care physician, provides special care for patients who are critically ill. Rather than focusing on specific body systems as a neurologist would focus on the brain and a cardiologist would focus on the heart, an intensivist provides a comprehensive approach to critical care.

“Intensivists bring the necessary medical expertise to efficiently manage difficult, critically ill patients,” said Dr. Harjoth Malli, the Medical Director of the Oak Grove Intensivist team at SVMC. “Intensivists are uniquely qualified to care for critically ill patients, because of the added years of training required in this specialty.”

Dr. Malli grew up in Tulare and later received his internal medicine degree from the Georgetown University Hospital/MedStar Washington Hospital Center Internal Medicine Residency Program. He went on to complete a Fellowship Program in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Caslifornia Pacific Medical Center as well as a Fellowship in Sleep Medicine at Stanford Sleep Medicine Center.

The team of intensivists, overseen by Dr. Malli, work from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week with primary responsibility for ICU patients at Sierra View Medical Center. In addition, the team monitors and coordinates aspects of care and services necessary for critical care of patients. After 7 p.m., hospitalists are available to admit and care for critically ill patients in the ICU until an exchange of information occurs with incoming intensivists at 7 a.m. each morning.

“Research has proven, time and time again that intensivists improve the quality of care, reduce costs, reduce length of stay and reduce mortality. We are able to utilize this service through the support of our hospital administration and current medical staff.” added Dr. Malli.

An intensive-led ICU is advantageous to SVMC and its surrounding communities because it will allow for a team of experts to care for and provide all aspects of services to ICU patients. The Society of Critical Care Medicine documented benefits to having an intensive-led ICU such as improved patient outcomes, reduced complications and shorter lengths of stay for patients.

“With a new intensivist group, not only is there an added benefit for direct patient care, but the entire ICU staff benefits,” said Dr. Malli. “RNs, pharmacists and RTs are all part of the core team and have the opportunity to elevate their clinical acumen in critical care management to better serve their patients and their community.”