ICU
Monitored hospital unit
ICU is the intensive care unit of a hospital—the ward for patients requiring constant monitoring and specialized life support.
Someone in the ICU is critically ill or recovering from major surgery.
The initialism doubles as dark wordplay: "I see you."
Mechanical breathing apparatus
- life-supportEquipment maintaining vital functions
- intubationPlacing airway tube
- sedationDrug-induced calm state
- comaUnwakeable unconsciousness
tracheostomy · resuscitation · stabilization · acute · severe · life-threatening · unstable · deteriorating
Entry or confession
- dischargeRelease of substance outward
- sedatedCalmed by medication
- intubatedHad airway tube inserted
- unconsciousNot awake or aware
prognosis · consent · DNR · palliative · end-of-life · recovery · weaning · extubation
Basic body measurements
- telemetryDistant automated data collection
- oximetryBlood oxygen level measurement
- electrocardiogramHeart's electrical activity record
- catheterInserted medical drainage tube
Complete separation from others
- sterileFree from microorganisms
- antisepticMicrobe-killing substance
- bedFurniture for slumber
- bayPartially enclosed water
curtain · gown · gloves · PPE · beeping · fluorescent · windowless · clinical
Of earliest infancy
- NICUIntensive care for newborns
- pediatricRelating to child medicine
- PICUCritical care for children
- cardiacPertaining to the heart
CCU · surgical · medical · MICU · trauma · burn · neurological · coronary
Doctor administering surgical sedation
- hospitalistDoctor treating admitted patients
- specialistExpert in one field
- consultantProfessional advice provider
- pharmacistMedicine dispensing professional
ventilator
Mechanical breathing apparatus
- life-supportEquipment maintaining vital functions
- intubationPlacing airway tube
- sedationDrug-induced calm state
coma · tracheostomy · resuscitation · stabilization · acute · severe · life-threatening · unstable · deteriorating · defibrillator
admission
Entry or confession
unconscious · prognosis · consent · DNR · palliative · end-of-life · recovery · weaning · extubation · transfer
vitals
Basic body measurements
- telemetryDistant automated data collection
- oximetryBlood oxygen level measurement
- electrocardiogramHeart's electrical activity record
isolation
Complete separation from others
- sterileFree from microorganisms
- antisepticMicrobe-killing substance
- bedFurniture for slumber
bay · curtain · gown · gloves · PPE · beeping · fluorescent · windowless · clinical
neonatal
Of earliest infancy
cardiac · CCU · surgical · medical · MICU · trauma · burn · neurological · coronary · post-operative
anesthesiologist
Doctor administering surgical sedation
- hospitalistDoctor treating admitted patients
- specialistExpert in one field
- consultantProfessional advice provider
pharmacist · attending · resident · fellow · rounds · handoff
- medicinedoctor, doctors, hospital, medicine, surgery
- hospitalshospital, ER, emergency room, operating room, operating rooms
- Medical AbbreviationsBP, CBC, CPR, CT, DNA
- surgerysurgery, surgeon, surgeons, operation, incision
- controlled environmentsclean room, cleanroom, laboratory, isolation chamber, sterile room
- Hospital Slangstat, code blue, frequent flyer, circling the drain, turf
ICUwaiting room
Space for anticipating service
reception area · hospital cafeteria · administrative offices · chapel · gift shop
Relief-focused medicine for illness
hospice · comfort care · routine checkup · wellness visit · preventive care
Medical facility without hospitalization
home care · home · nursing home · doctor's office · discharge
- ICU nurseMedical professional in intensive care
intensive, care, unit, intend, intent, intention, intentional, intensify, intensity