Critical Care V3 EN

Critical care is specialized multidisciplinary care provided to clients with life threatening or potentially life threatening conditions, typically involving one or more organ system failures. This type of care is provided on a 24-hour basis in a variety of settings including on a hospital ward, or in a post-anaesthetic recovery unit, intensive care unit, coronary care unit or other high dependency unit. Critical care also includes care provided by outreach teams, known as rapid response or medical emergency teams. These teams typically conduct interventions on the ward in an attempt to halt deterioration of the client's condition and possibly prevent the need for admission to the intensive care unit.

The Critical Care Services standards contain the following subsections:

• Investing in critical care services
• Having the right people
• Delivering quality critical care services
• Basing clinical decisions on guidelines and evidence
• Having a positive impact on outcomes