Intensivisten

Intensivisten is a physician who specializes in intensive care medicine and leads patient management in intensive care units (ICUs). The term is commonly used in Swedish-language medical contexts to refer to intensivists. These doctors care for critically ill patients with conditions such as respiratory failure, septic shock, multi-organ failure, and complex post-operative support, often coordinating care across multiple specialties.

Training and certification vary by country but typically involve completing medical school, a residency in a primary specialty such as internal medicine, anesthesia, surgery, or pediatrics, and a fellowship in critical care medicine. Certification or board eligibility in intensive care medicine is then pursued, with ongoing requirements for professional development and quality assurance to maintain competency.

Roles and responsibilities of the intensivist include organizing and leading ICU care, performing daily patient rounds, and making decisions about ventilation strategies, vasopressor or inotropic support, and renal replacement therapy. They oversee sedation, delirium management, and nutrition, and guide decisions on prognosis and end-of-life care in collaboration with patients’ families and other specialists. They also participate in hospital-wide quality improvement, multidisciplinary planning, and triage of patients for ICU admission when resources are limited.

Work environment and workflow are characterized by high acuity, continuous monitoring, and a team-based approach that includes nurses, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, and other clinicians. The intensivist often functions as the ICU’s clinical leader, coordinating transitions of care and ensuring continuity across ICU and general wards.

See also: Intensive care medicine, Intensive care unit, Critical care, Triage.