The Essence of Critical Care
For me, the best definition of critical care is still that given by Peter Safar in 1974:
“We have defined “critical care medicine” as the triad of 1) resuscitation, 2) emergency care for life-threatening conditions, and 3) intensive care; including all components of the emergency and critical care medicine delivery system, prehospital and hospital.”
Critical care involves all those who look after the dying and the ‘at-risk-of-dying’ — wherever and whenever.
Yet it is one thing to know what critical care is, knowing what makes it what it is — what is at its core — is another. I asked Scott Weingart of EMCrit.org to tell us just what is the essence of critical care in the opening talk of SMACC.
Here is what he said:
References
- Safar P. Critical care medicine—quo vadis? Crit Care Med. 1974Jan-Feb;2(1):1-5.
Chris is an Intensivist and ECMO specialist at The Alfred ICU, where he is Deputy Director (Education). He is a Clinical Adjunct Associate Professor at Monash University, the Lead for the Clinician Educator Incubator programme, and a CICM First Part Examiner.
He is an internationally recognised Clinician Educator with a passion for helping clinicians learn and for improving the clinical performance of individuals and collectives. He was one of the founders of the FOAM movement (Free Open-Access Medical education) has been recognised for his contributions to education with awards from ANZICS, ANZAHPE, and ACEM.
His one great achievement is being the father of three amazing children.
On Bluesky, he is @precordialthump.bsky.social and on the site that Elon has screwed up, he is @precordialthump.
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