Critical Care Outside the Intensive Care Unit

To improve the care of critically ill patients, intensive care units (ICUs) were created in the mid-twentieth century.1,2 ICU care provides a concentration of specialized nursing and physician care, respiratory therapy, specialized medical equipment, and continuous and invasive patient monitoring. Modern ICUs improve survival and reduce hospital lengths of stay.3,4 However, the ICU is a destination, whereas for most patients, critical illness begins well before ICU admission, or even hospital presentation.

Source: Critical Care Clinics - April 27, 2024 Category: Intensive Care Authors: David N. Hager, Kyle J. Gunnerson, Stephen Macdonald Tags: Preface Source Type: research