West Virginia University Hospitals’ Neurological Critical Care Unit (NCCU) is a 10-bed unit serving critically ill and injured neurological patients. The unit is located on J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital’s fifth floor. WVU Hospitals is a Joint Commission-certified Comprehensive Stroke Center, a designation that recognizes the facility’s specific capabilities to treat the most complex stroke cases.

What We Do

Our neurological care team consists of neurology intensivists, all board-certified in critical care. This team treats patients suffering from severe brain injuries, stroke, or brain tumors while many are recovering after an invasive neurosurgical procedure. Patients recovering after minimally-invasive endovascular procedures to repair aneurysms or other cerebral vascular diseases will also normally be monitored in the NCCU.

The NCCU is staffed by attending physicians who provide continuous coverage with assistance from residents, critical care nurse practitioners, and physician assistants with support from our neurological specialists. Our team of NCCU nurses has received advanced training in critical care nursing related to neurological patient conditions, and many have received additional degrees and certifications.

What to Expect

The NCCU is a patient-centered ICU. As such, families are welcome at their loved one’s bedside daily from 8 am to 9 pm, enabling family members to spend quality time in the patient’s room. NCCU nurses are available 24/7, providing families with information and reassurance.

Patients (to the extent they are able) and their families participate in all discussions and decisions about their care. A patient’s length of stay in the NCCU can range from hours to months depending upon the extent of the illness or injuries.

Learn more about our designation as a comprehensive stroke center.