title: The Intensive care unit specialist: Report from the Task Force of World Federation of Societies of Intensive and Critical Care Medicine.
abstract: The role of the critical care specialist has been unequivocally established in the management of severely ill patients throughout the world. Data show that the presence of a critical care specialist in the intensive care unit (ICU) environment has reduced morbidity and mortality, improved patient safety, and reduced length of stay and costs. However, many ICUs across the world function as "open ICUs," in which patients may be admitted under a primary physician who has not been trained in critical care medicine. Although the concept of the ICU has gained widespread acceptance amongst medical professionals, hospital administrators and the general public; recognition and the need for doctors specializing in intensive care medicine has lagged behind. The curriculum to ensure appropriate training around the world is diverse but should ideally meet some minimum standards. The World Federation of Societies of Intensive and Critical Care Medicine has set up a task force to address issues concerning the training, functions, roles, and responsibilities of an ICU specialist.
authors.affiliation: Bombay Hospital Institute of Medical Sciences, Mumbai, India. Electronic address: pravinramin@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Pravin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Amin
authors.affiliation: McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fox-Robichaud
authors.affiliation: Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Divatia
authors.affiliation: University of Genova, Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pelosi
authors.affiliation: Ankara University, Sıhhiye, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Defne
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Altintas
authors.affiliation: Marmara University, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Emel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Eryüksel
authors.affiliation: Medanta The Medicity, Haryana, India.
authors.forename: Yatin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.affiliation: Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Gee Young
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.affiliation: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, CIBERes, Parc Taulí Hospital, Sabadell, Spain.
authors.forename: Lluís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Blanch
authors.affiliation: Universitätsklinikum Schleswig, Holstein, Germany.
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Weiler
authors.affiliation: Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX.
authors.forename: Janice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zimmerman
authors.affiliation: Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: Jean-Louis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Vincent
mesh_terms: D026683:Advisory Committees; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003422:Critical Care; D003479:Curriculum; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000458:organization & administration; D010819:Physician's Role; D012955:Societies, Medical; D013038:Specialization