Multidisciplinary Critical Care
A critically ill patient rarely has one problem. Kidneys, lungs, nutrition, infection and the original illness all interact, and treating each in isolation goes badly. The unit works to one plan agreed daily, with each speciality contributing to it rather than issuing separate instructions.
- One plan, agreed daily
- Physiotherapy and nutrition from day one
- Specialists contribute rather than direct separately
- Families given a single consistent account
Stay
For the duration of critical illness
Duration
Reviewed daily by the whole team
Anaesthesia
As required
About Multidisciplinary Critical Care
The daily review brings together the intensivist, the relevant specialists, nursing, physiotherapy, dietetics and pharmacy. Each has something the others need: the surgeon knows what was done, the physiotherapist knows what the patient managed this morning, the pharmacist knows which drugs interact. Agreeing one plan avoids the situation where three specialists give three different instructions.
- One agreed plan rather than parallel instructions
- Nutrition and physiotherapy are treatment, not extras
- Pharmacy review catches interactions in complex prescriptions
- Families receive one consistent account
Before you read on
Everything here is general information about multidisciplinary critical care. Whether it suits you, and how it would be done in your case, is a decision for your doctor after examining you.
Your consultant's instructions always take precedence over anything written on this page.
When is it recommended?
Situations in which a doctor may suggest multidisciplinary critical care.
- Patients with several organs failing
- Complex surgical patients in intensive care
- Prolonged critical illness
- Patients with multiple pre-existing conditions
- Cases where specialities disagree on priorities
- Any patient needing coordinated long-term critical care
Procedure details
The usual sequence, from first consultation through to follow-up.
Daily team review
The intensivist, specialists, nursing, physiotherapy, dietetics and pharmacy review the patient together and agree the day's plan.
Setting priorities
Where treatments conflict, priorities are agreed explicitly rather than left to whoever writes in the notes last.
Nutrition and rehabilitation
Feeding and physiotherapy are planned from the first days, because both materially affect how well a patient recovers.
One account to the family
The family receives a single update reflecting the agreed plan, rather than differing accounts from different teams.
How to prepare
What to sort out before you come in.
- Nominate one family member to receive updates, which keeps information consistent
- Bring a complete medication list including anything bought without prescription
- Tell the team about allergies and previous adverse reactions
- Ask when the daily review happens and when the family update follows
- Write down questions, as a great deal is discussed over days
Recovery
What to expect afterwards, and roughly when.
- Recovery from prolonged critical illness takes months rather than weeks
- Physiotherapy begun in the unit substantially reduces later weakness
- Nutrition support often continues after discharge from intensive care
- Follow-up may involve several specialities and is coordinated before discharge
- Some patients experience memory gaps or vivid recollections, which is common and worth discussing
Why choose Humayun for multidisciplinary critical care
Complex patients go wrong at the joins between specialities, which is why one plan matters more than any single opinion.
- One plan agreed daily rather than parallel instructions from different teams
- Physiotherapy and dietetics in the daily review rather than called when somebody remembers
- Pharmacy reviewing complex prescriptions for interactions
- One family update reflecting the agreed plan, so relatives are not given conflicting accounts
Your Health Matters
Take the next step towards better healthcare.
Connect with our experienced specialists and find the right care for you and your family.
More in Critical Care
Medical ICU
Intensive care for patients whose organs are failing from medical illness rather than after surgery.
Surgical ICU
Intensive care after major surgery or serious injury, where the priorities are pain, fluids, breathing and early mobility.
Isolation ICU
Intensive care beds that can be isolated for patients with infectious illness, protecting other patients and staff.
Postoperative Critical Care
Planned close monitoring after major surgery for patients whose heart, lungs or other conditions make recovery higher risk.
Sepsis Management in ICU
Intensive care for sepsis that has progressed to organ failure, with support for circulation, kidneys and breathing.
Respiratory Failure Management
Intensive care for lungs that can no longer maintain oxygen or clear carbon dioxide without support.
Non-Invasive Ventilation
Breathing support through a tight-fitting mask, which avoids a breathing tube for many patients in respiratory failure.
Ventilator Support
Mechanical ventilation through a breathing tube for patients who cannot breathe adequately on their own.
Haemodynamic Monitoring
Continuous measurement of blood pressure, heart function and fluid status, so treatment is guided by numbers rather than impression.
Emergency Stabilisation
The immediate work of securing airway, breathing and circulation in a critically ill patient before anything else happens.