The Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) at WVU Medicine J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital provides specialized, advanced care for patients with complex heart and vascular conditions. Our 28-bed unit, located on the third floor, is staffed by a dedicated team of critical care intensivists and multidisciplinary specialists who bring expertise in cardiac critical care, internal medicine, nephrology, neurocritical care, transplant medicine, trauma, general surgery, and thoracic care.

Teamwork is at the heart of everything we do at CCTI. Our specialists work closely with the WVU Medicine Heart & Vascular Institute and the WVU Medicine Transplant Alliance to make sure patients receive seamless, high-level care during their most critical moments. This collaborative approach has helped expand access to advanced transplant services in West Virginia.

In November 2019, care teams supported the state’s first-ever heart transplant – bringing life-saving treatment closer to home for patients who previously had to travel out of state. That progress continued in November 2020 with West Virginia’s first dual-organ transplant, when a patient received both a heart and a kidney in a single procedure.

CCTI teams have also contributed to other major milestones, including assisting the WVU Medicine Heart & Vascular Institute with West Virginia’s first implantation of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) for patients with severe heart failure. In addition, our ECMO program – recognized with the ELSO Platinum Level Center of Excellence Award – has supported more than 20 hospitals across the United States and Canada and played a national role in shaping ECMO care recommendations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Together, these achievements reflect the strength of collaboration across critical care, surgical, and transplant teams. Through advanced training, innovation, and a commitment to teamwork, CCTI delivers the highest level of support for critically ill and injured patients.

Our Cardiovascular Intensive Care team cares for patients with life-threatening conditions involving the heart and vascular system.

Led by intensivists, the CVICU’s multidisciplinary team includes resident and fellow physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, respiratory therapists, dietitians, pharmacists, physical and occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, and highly trained critical care nurses. Many of our nurses hold advanced degrees and specialty certifications.

Our intensivists collaborate closely with anesthesiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, cardiologists, and palliative medicine specialists to deliver safe, high-quality care across operating rooms, intensive care units, and other critical care settings.

Because critical illness affects not only patients but also their families, we partner with social workers, spiritual care providers, and patient advocacy teams to support the emotional, practical, and spiritual needs of loved ones throughout the care journey.

The Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit is patient centered. Patients (to the extent they are able) and families participate in all discussions and decisions about care. Because of the variety of heart and vascular conditions and illnesses in the unit, length of stay can vary from hours to months. Communication is a top priority on the unit, with nursing staff providing regular updates on patients’ conditions to family members.

Visitation policy hours and guidelines can be found here.