Intensive care represents the highest level of patient care and treatment designated for critically ill patients with potentially recoverable life-threatening conditions. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services defines critical illness or injury as acutely impairing one or more vital organ systems such that there is a high probability of imminent or life-threatening deterioration in the patient’s condition.

Intensive care (critical care) is a multidisciplinary and interprofessional specialty specifically designed for the management of patients at risk of developing or with established, life-threatening organ failure. The capacity to temporarily support and if necessary, replace the function of many failing organ systems, particularly the lungs, cardiovascular system and kidneys, is what underscores intensive care medicine.