Intensivist

When it comes to the treatment of critically sick patients, intensivists are medical professionals who specialise in the care of critically ill patients, most commonly in the intensive care unit (ICU). In addition to internists and internal medicine sub-specialists (most often pulmonologists), intensive care specialists may include anesthesiologists, emergency medicine doctors, paediatricians (including neonatologists), and surgeons who have completed a fellowship in critical care medicine. It is necessary for the intensivist to be knowledgeable about not just a wide range of illnesses that are frequent among critically sick patients, but also about the technical processes and instruments (such as mechanical ventilators) that are employed in the intensive care environment.

Intensivists are often the team leaders of multi-disciplinary teams of care providers, assisting in the coordination, collaboration, and facilitation of the provision of evidenced-based outcomes for their patients. In addition to doctors and advanced practise providers such as physician assistants or nurse practitioners; nurses; respiratory therapists; pharmacists; nutritionists; and other illness specific specialists; the team consists of the following individuals.