Patient Care Unit 53 at the Royal Alexandra Hospital is a 30 bed unit specializing in Acute Care of the Elderly (ACE) and Acute Care Stroke and General Internal Medicine. PCU 53 provides a unit-based interprofessional, closely integrated team approach. Common patient diagnoses include dementia, delerium, stroke, pneumonia, and congestive heart failure.

Combined, these three specialties facilitate an environment for creativity, ongoing participation in development and growth towards evidenced based best practice. Frequent in-services are available on this unit.

Learn how the interprofessional team works together in specific care scenarios here:
Cognitive Assessment Poster
Fall Prevention and Treatment Poster
Swallowing Assessment Poster

Download a summary of the RAH 53 IPCLU features here.

During a student’s placement on Unit 53, they are encouraged to participate in the following features of the IPCLU:

IPCLU Learning Room
This is a dedicated space for interprofessional team member and student learning. It hosts three computers committed to online research and learning activities as well as space for student groups to convene. It also features a number of interprofessional, stroke and geriatrics text resources. The IPCLU Learning Room is open to team members and students from all professions

IPCLU Board
Located just outside the IPCLU Learning Room, this board features student calendars, pictures of the interprofessional team, and information on interprofessional learning opportunities such as IP Rounds, shadowing opportunities, in-services and workshops. Interprofessional articles of interested may also be posted on the IPCLU Board.

Interprofessional Team Pictures
The interprofessional team on Unit 53 is large and complex, incorporating General Medicine, Acute Care of the Elderly, and Acute Care Stroke. To increase awareness and foster the unit community, pictures of the interprofessional team members and students have been posted on the IPCLU Board.

Physician Rounding Schedule
The primary Acute Care of the Elderly and Acute Care Stroke physicians, Nurse Practitioners and Pharmacists round at posted, regularly scheduled times to facilitate communication with the interprofessional team and students. The schedule includes a 20 minute period following rounds where the physicians/Nurse Practitioners are available on the unit for consultation.

Interprofessional Kardex
The Interprofessional (IP) Kardex was developed to enhance interprofessional written communication. It is designed to accurately reflect a patient’s current status and goals of care, and is reviewed and used by all professions on the unit regularly.

Patient Bedside Boards
Above each patient bed, a whiteboard has been installed to facilitate interprofessional communication with patients and their families. Information about activities of daily living or notes can be written on the board by any of the team members, students, or the patient and families.

Wall of Jargon
The Wall of Jargon highlights words/terms that may need more explanation when the professions communicate with each other or patients and families. We encourage all interprofessional team members and students to add to the Wall of Jargon and bring these words/terms to each other’s attention.

Jargon Alert! Cards
Any practitioner or student can use a Jargon Alert! card if someone uses a term that is unclear.  Attached to the back of a name badge, individuals can show their Jargon Alert! card any time on the unit prompting the recipient to add a brief explanation of how the term they used relates to patient care.  The Jargon Alert! cards provide a safe, fun tool for clarifying interprofessional communication.

RAH 53 Mission Statement
RAH 53 a complex unit incorporating General Medicine, Acute Care of the Elderly, Acute Care Stroke and the IPCLU. The unit’s Mission, Vision and Goals were developed to reflect this diversity and how the unit works together.You can read it here

IPCLU Share Your Thoughts Box
Feedback from interprofessional team members, students and instructors/preceptors on their interprofessional experiences is encouraged. An IPCLU Share Your Thoughts BRox is located in the IPCLU Learning Room for feedback on any of the IPCLU initiatives.

RAH 53 IPCLU Website
www.rah53ipclu.ca
The RAH 53 IPCLU Website provides a comprehensive overview of all the IPCLU features as well as useful links, and unit information and pictures. All interprofessional team members, students and instructors/preceptors are encouraged to visit the site and learn more about the RAH 53 IPCLU.
This website is password protected. Please contact the unit to obtain access to view the site.

Contact Paulette at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it