ICU Strong Campaign Kicks Off at CRMH!

Together we are ICU Strong!

Starting Tuesday, July 1st, 2025, and lasting for 1 year, the ICU Strong campaign will kick off at CRMH.  This campaign was born out of the simple desire to improve care for our critically ill patients, and foster positive communication amongst Carilion employees, no matter their position.  It has transformed into a movement that hopes to foster positive changes at CRMH!

Surgical Critical Care Medical Director and Critical Care Committee Co-Chair Dr. Emily Faulks, alongside a few other members of the ICU Strong Work Group (Rachel Altizer, Robin Woody, Htin Dingra, and Maimuna Jatta), walked from ICU to ICU on Monday, June 30th explaining the details of the campaign to unit directors and other personnel, and how to earn the now-coveted – and enormous – ICU Strong Trophy. 

The rules are simple – each month a new metric will be focused on (i.e. July is Reducing Hospital Acquired Infections, August is Mobility and Using TAP, and so on).  If an ICU unit is successful in obtaining said metric in its respective month, they receive 1 point. 

Here is where the friendly competition kicks in – there will be a QR code that is located on the distributed flyers in each ICU.  Whenever anyone sees another coworker doing something well (proper hand hygiene, great communication between an Attending and an RN, etc.) they can use that QR code to give that coworker kudos as a bonus entry!  Absolutely anyone can enter, with no limit as to how many bonus entries can be made, and each one is worth 1 point.  You must indicate which ICU the kudos should go to, and no anonymous entries, please!  All questions must be answered in order for the entry to be counted. 

At the end of each month, whichever ICU has received the most points wins the ICU Strong Trophy – and a banner to display on their unit - and will have their unit’s name engraved on the trophy each month! 

ICU Unit Directors will receive their respective kudos each month as well, so anyone who was recognized and given a shout out will know what they did, mattered!

Thank you for your participation, and good luck to all!  Let the games begin!

**For additional information, please contact Dr. Emily Faulks at erfaulks@carilionclinic.org or Trauma Services Administrative Coordinator Laura Grace Kaufman at lgkaufman@carilionclinic.org.