title: [What is intensive care medicine? Multidisciplinary intensive care units].
abstract: Intensive care medicine is described from a multidisciplinary point of view. The term "multidisciplinary" is used, although "multispeciality" may be more appropriate. Intensive care medicine is defined as an observational, diagnostical and therapeutical approach to the critically-ill patient, requiring specialized medical and nursing skills that cannot be met in a general ward. Critical illness is considered as overt or threatening, potentially reversible severe organ dysfunction. Intensive care medicine is conducted in the high-technology environment of intensive care units. These are further classified according to their own competency base as well as the level of the hospital in which they are situated.
authors.affiliation: Rigshospitalet, Abdominalcentret, Intensiv Terapi Klinik 4131, København Ø. kurt.espersen@rh.hosp.dk
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Espersen
authors.forename: Morten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Freundlich
authors.forename: Tom Hartvig
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Jensen
mesh_terms: D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000592:standards; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003422:Critical Care / Q000592:standards; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000592:standards; D010348:Patient Care Team; D000078329:Workforce