title: Evolution of the intensive care unit as a clinical center and critical care medicine as a discipline.
abstract: This article discusses the history of the ICU and critical care medicine (CCM). It also discusses the certification of critical care nurses and allied health professionals, as well as CCM societies and congresses, education and board certification, evidence-based CCM, research and publications, and future challenges to the field.
authors.affiliation: Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, 3550 Terrace Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA. grenvik@comcast.net
authors.forename: Ake
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grenvik
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Pinsky
mesh_terms: D016390:Allied Health Occupations / Q000266:history; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000266:history; D002568:Certification / Q000266:history; D003226:Congresses as Topic / Q000266:history; D003422:Critical Care / Q000266:history* / Q000458:organization & administration; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000266:history / Q000379:methods; D005060:Europe; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000266:history; D049669:History, 16th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000266:history*; D008887:Military Medicine / Q000266:history; D010506:Periodicals as Topic / Q000266:history; D011051:Poliomyelitis / Q000150:complications / Q000266:history / Q000628:therapy; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000266:history / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology / Q000266:history / Q000628:therapy; D012138:Respiratory Therapy / Q000266:history; D012955:Societies, Medical / Q000266:history; D013041:Specialties, Nursing / Q000266:history; D014187:Transportation of Patients / Q000266:history / Q000379:methods; D014481:United States