Surgical intensivists are board-certified general surgeons who have completed
additional training in the management and treatment of critically ill surgical
patients. They have all received the American Board of Surgerys Certificate
of Added Qualifications in Surgical Critical Care. The services they offer include
the detailed evaluation and management of acutely ill or injured patients in
the MSICU. Management of the patient may include technical procedures that the
intensivists are specifically trained to perform.
Intensivists use a team approach to patient care by coordinating nursing staff,
consulting physicians, pharmacists, respiratory therapists and other hospital
staff. As board-certified surgeons, the surgical intensivists have unique insight
into surgical problems in the critically ill. Since the surgical critical care
team maintains a continuous presence in the ICU, they are able to deal most
effectively with the patients immediate needs. The SCC team works closely with
the patients operating surgeon to direct the overall care plan.
