May is National Critical Care Awareness and Recognition Month. Medicus is proud to join in celebrating the dedicated individuals who work tirelessly to provide lifesaving care to critically ill patients in hospital Intensive Care Units (ICUs). This month is the perfect time to honor their commitment, skill, and compassion and acknowledge their pivotal role in our healthcare system.

The Vital Role of Intensivists and the ICU

Critical care physicians, also known as intensivists, are central to caring for patients with severe medical conditions within the ICU. Working in this setting requires a high level of mental alertness, quick decision-making, and advanced skills. Research shows that full-time intensivists improve patient outcomes, including higher survival rates, lower infection rates, fewer ventilator days, and shorter ICU stays. In addition, intensivists manage the ICU environment by setting policies, developing protocols, and facilitating communication among specialists, patients, and their families.

The Critical Care Team:

More than 5 million patients in the United States are admitted to ICUs each year for intensive or invasive monitoring and rely on a dedicated team of critical care clinicians. These teams demonstrate an unwavering dedication to their patients and their families. This team varies depending on what a patient is admitted for. However, critical care teams typically include: 

  • Intensivists
  • Critical Care Nurses/ Certified Critical Care Registered Nurses (CCRNs)
  • Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners
  • Respiratory Therapists
  • Physical Therapists
  • Occupational Therapists  
  • Pharmacists
  • Child Life Specialists
  • Registered Dietitian

At Medicus, we have been privileged to help and observe the positive impact of our locum tenens critical care physicians. One of our established locum tenens intensivists received a heartfelt letter from a patient's daughter expressing gratitude for the care her mother received: 

"Dear Dr. S,

I wanted to let you know how grateful I am that you were working in the ICU. Your treatment of my mother during her critical time, I believe, saved her life. Your skills and manner during that difficult time were a blessing. Thank you for being in North Carolina. There are no accidents; you were meant to be there when we needed you most. My mom is on the road to recovery, and I am grateful to have more time with her. I'll never forget you."

-A patient's daughter

Celebrate Those Who Work in the ICU

This month, join the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) in recognizing critical care clinicians' tireless and inspiring commitment worldwide! No matter how you mark the occasion, share your celebrations with the necessary care community using the hashtag #CritCareMonth.

Help express gratitude for those who work in critical care by:

Wearing Blue on May 17th: This is the designated day to wear blue, the official color of the ICU, in support of Critical Care Awareness and Recognition Month. Invite colleagues and friends to participate and show your appreciation.

Expressing Gratitude: Take a moment to thank a critical care clinician for their hard work. A simple "thank you" or a handwritten note can mean a lot to those who give so much.

Sharing Stories on Social Media: Use the hashtags #CritCareMonth and #ICUProud to highlight stories of critical care clinicians who have made a difference in your life or the lives of others or share highlights of what makes you proud to work in critical care.

Thank you to all of those who work in critical care!

Thank you, critical care clinicians, for your unwavering dedication to providing lifesaving to critically ill patients. To all clinical care physicians and advanced practitioners, your highly specialized skills and passion for saving lives are truly honorable. Thank you for your commitment to excellence, innovation, and collaboration in healthcare.

At Medicus, we are proud to partner with dedicated locum tenens critical care physicians and advanced practitioners who ensure ICUs nationwide are adequately staffed each and every day. We appreciate you and all critical care physicians and advanced practitioners this May and throughout the year!

A special thank you from one of our Medicus Critical Care Locums

Interested in working locum tenens in critical care? View our open critical care jobs here.