Critical Care... What is it?

[WishUponAStar]

Hello,

I have seen residencies like pulmonology with dual board certifications... One in critical care...

I think I know what critical care is... But it would be way awesome if someone discussed the type of things considered critical care.

Would that be vent management? ICU? ACLS? Does "critical care" encompass trauma or emergency medicine?

Anyway... Input is great.

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[mdmom]

Hey there,

The ICU where I work is the only one in the hospital. We get everything: CV, Neuro, etc.
The pulmonary/critical care physicians here are usually consulted in on very critically ill and medically complex patients who have sustained serious lung injury from disease, or trauma of any sort. Ventilator mgmt is only a part of the role that they play. Its kind of like internal medicine for the ICU patient only. They have active roles, and somtimes long hours, in the care and mgmt of very unstable patients.

Hope this helps. :wink:

 

[drusso]

You can think of critical care doctors as primary doctors of the ICU. Critical care docs, usually board certified in pulmonology but also come from cardiology, nephrology or general internal medicine backgrounds are responsible for the day-to-day management of patients in the ICU. Some places have closed ICU's run by critical docs and others have open ICU's where a variety of specialists manage their patients (a disease management model). I just finished my critical care rotation and enjoyed it...long hours though...