An intensive care unit (ICU) is a special department of a hospital or healthcare facility that provides intensive care medicine to patients who are acutely unwell and require critical medical care. ICUs are also known as intensive therapy units, intensive treatment units, or critical care units. They are distinguished from general hospital wards by a higher staff-to-patient ratio and access to advanced medical resources and equipment that is not routinely available elsewhere. ICU teams are multi-disciplinary, made up of highly skilled intensive care nurses, doctors, and specialists trained in providing critical care for patients with a variety of medical, surgical, and trauma conditions.
ICUs provide 24-hour care from a highly-trained team of specialists, and there are fewer beds with lots of equipment to monitor and care for critically ill patients. ICU patients are those who are in a serious accident, undergo major surgery, or have a sudden decline in health. Common conditions that are treated within ICUs include respiratory and cardiovascular, as well as neurology. People are likely to be admitted to the ICU if they are in a critical condition and need constant observation and specialized care, such as after major surgery, following an accident, during a chronic or terminal illness, during a serious infection, or if a baby is born prematurely or with a serious illness.
