ICU
Medical abbreviation · Hospital
| Stands for | Intensive care unit |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
ICU stands for Intensive care unit, a hospital abbreviation.
Hospital unit for critically ill patients who need constant monitoring and organ support such as mechanical ventilation, vasopressors or dialysis. Nurses usually care for one or two patients each, and intensivist physicians lead the team.
Example: Transferred to ICU for worsening respiratory failure; intubated on arrival.
Usage notes
Large hospitals divide intensive care into specialized units such as MICU, SICU, CVICU, NICU and PICU. California was the first US state to mandate nurse-to-patient ratios on every unit, including 1:2 in intensive care. In the UK and elsewhere the term ITU (intensive therapy unit) is also used.
Related abbreviations
More hospital abbreviations
- HAC – Hospital-acquired condition
- HAI – Healthcare-associated infection
- HCAHPS – Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems
- HCW – Healthcare worker
- HH – Home health
- ICF/IID – Intermediate care facility for individuals with intellectual…
- IMCU – Intermediate care unit
- IP – Inpatient
- IPC – Infection prevention and control
- IRF – Inpatient rehabilitation facility
- JCAHO – Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
- L&D – Labor and delivery
See all 89 hospital abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.