What is critical care?
Critical care (also called intensive care) is for people who have been admitted to a hospital with a serious illness or injury that requires intensive medical attention and 24/7 monitoring. Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are cared for by a specially trained team that may include:
- Surgeons
- Nurses
- Physicians
- Respiratory therapists
- Clinical nutritionists
- Physical and occupational therapists
- Other providers
Who needs critical care?
Critical care is appropriate for hospitalized patients of any age who are severely ill. Examples include patients who:
- Have had invasive surgery
- Have been severely injured in an accident
- Have serious infections
- Have trouble breathing on their own and require a ventilator
Conditions commonly treated
- Heart attack
- Lung problems
- Organ failure
- Brain trauma
- Blood infections (sepsis)
- Drug-resistant infections
- Serious injury (car crash, burns)
