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A Career in Intensive Care

A Career in Intensive Care. Why Choose Intensive Care Medicine?. Relatively new, exciting and growing speciality Be part of a dedicated team of highly trained professionals, looking after the sickest patients in the hospital

jason-velasquez
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A Career in Intensive Care

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  1. A Career in Intensive Care

  2. Why Choose Intensive Care Medicine? • Relatively new, exciting and growing speciality • Be part of a dedicated team of highly trained professionals, looking after the sickest patients in the hospital • Look after a wealth of patients with a variety of pathologies – be a true generalist! • Acquire a wealth of specialist skills including airway management, bronchoscopy, echocardiography, ultrasound, communication and clinical leadership

  3. History of Intensive Care Medicine • 1854: During the Crimean War Florence Nightingale pioneered a concept of separating injured soldiers depending on the severity of their illness • The sickest soldiers were monitored more often by more nursing staff

  4. History of Intensive Care Medicine • In 1952 Bjorn Ibsen, a Danish anaesthetist was involved in a Polio epidemic of 2722 cases in 6 months • Supply of the traditional iron lung ventilators became overwhelmed • Ibsen used positive pressure ventilation after intubating patients and enlisting a rota of 200 medical students to manually ventilate them • Mortality fell from around 90% to 25% • Patients were nursed in 3 specialist areas of 35 beds • Ibsen is considered by many as one of the founding fathers of Intensive Care

  5. Intensive Care in the UK • Make up 1-2% of hospital beds in UK, but are in increasing demand • 3,685 beds across 161 NHS trusts • Care for surgical, medical & paediatric patients as well as those with specialist needs e.g. cardiothoracic, neurosurgical, liver, burns & spinal injuries

  6. Training in Intensive Care • Currently trainees originate from a parent speciality: • Anaesthesia • Emergency Medicine • Acute Medicine • Surgery News Flash: Single speciality training in ICM with entry at ST1 is coming soon… • Those interested and committed to intensive care apply to Dual-CCT programme comprising 2 steps: • Step 1: At least 6 months Anaesthesia, 6 months Acute medicine & 9 months ICM • Step 2: 1 year ICM with option to pursue specialist interest • All placements arranged during your parent speciality training • Does not usually add extra time to training

  7. Life as an Intensivist “Variety is the spice of life”Quote: A very wise man! Activities include: • Daily assessment of patients on the unit • Team ward rounds to discuss and plan patient management • Seeing referrals from other specialities • Transferring patients around hospital or to other ICUs • Practical procedures including: • Intubation, tracheostomy & bronchoscopy • Insertion of lines • Echo & ultrasound • Teaching trainees, students, nurses and many others • Northwest Regional network of ICU’s offering regular meetings, study days and social events

  8. What you need to be an intensivist • Enthusiasm & compassion for treating the critically ill • Good team player with leadership qualities • Excellent communication skills • Ability to think and perform under pressure • Willing and happy to wear scrubs every day!

  9. I want to be a real doctor! Find out more at: • Intensive Care Society www.ics.ac.uk • ICM North West www.icmnorthwest.com • Association of Northwest ICU’s www.anwicu.org.uk

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