Levels of Care Offered by Intensive Care Units (ICUs)

An intensive care unit (ICU) should provide the level of care appropriate for the institution.

Parameters:

(1) extent of critical care

(2) resources available

(3) referral/transfer

(4) academic/training mission

Extent of Critical Care	Resources Available	Referral and Transfer	Academic Mission	ICU Level
comprehensive, extensive range of services	specialized diagnostic and therapeutic services	infrequent unless stable, usually intakes	priority	I
intermediate	some specialists	specific problems	variable	II
limited services, routine care	limited	after initial stabilization and assessment for many problems	limited	III

Surgical specialists available within 30 minutes at a Level I ICU may include:

(1) general surgeon

(2) trauma surgeon

(3) orthopedic surgeon

(4) neurosurgeon

(5) cardiovascular and/or thoracic surgeon

(6) vascular surgeon

(7) obstetric-gynecologic surgeon

(8) urologist

Medical specialists available within 30 minutes at a Level I ICU may include:

(1) cardiologist

(2) pulmonologist and/or intensivist

(3) gastroenterologist (endoscopist)

(4) hematologist

(5) infectious diseases specialist

(6) nephrologists

(10) neurologist

Other specialists

(1) anesthesiologist

(2) neuroradiologist

(3) interventional radologist

(4) pathologist

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