How to Be Intensivist - Job Description, Skills, and Interview Questions

Jan 15, 2023 / 5 Minutes Read / By Albert

How to Become

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The cause of the current intensivist shortage in the United States is multi-faceted. The aging population, coupled with an increase in chronic and complex illnesses, has caused a surge in the demand for care. This, in turn, has led to a shortage of intensivists, or specialists who manage the care of critically ill patients, who are in short supply due to the lengthy and intensive nature of the training required to become a certified intensivist.

Likewise, there is also a shortage of nurses and other healthcare professionals to provide round-the-clock care to these high-acuity patients. The shortage of intensivists and other healthcare personnel has led to an increase in patient mortality and morbidity, as well as longer wait times for patients seeking care. the lack of intensivists is leading to an increase in healthcare costs due to the need for additional staffing and resources.

Steps How to Become

Complete a 4-year medical degree. The first step to becoming an intensivist is to obtain a 4-year medical degree from an accredited medical school.
Obtain a medical license. After completing the medical degree, you must obtain a medical license from the state you plan to practice in.
Complete an internal medicine residency. After obtaining a medical license, you will need to complete an internal medicine residency program, which typically takes three years.
Become board certified. After completing the internal medicine residency, you must pass the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) exam to become board certified in internal medicine.
Complete a critical care fellowship. After becoming board certified in internal medicine, you must complete a critical care fellowship program, which typically takes two years.
Become board certified in critical care. After completing the critical care fellowship, you must pass the American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA) exam to become board certified in critical care.
Take the intensivist certification exam. Once you are board certified in critical care, you can take the American Board of Intensivists (ABI) certification exam.

Intensivists are highly skilled and capable medical professionals specializing in the care of critically ill patients in a hospital intensive care unit (ICU). Intensivists must possess a combination of clinical knowledge, procedural experience and communication skills in order to effectively diagnose and treat critically ill patients. The intensive care specialist must have a thorough understanding of the pathophysiology of critical illness, as well as the ability to provide life-saving interventions when needed.

Intensivists must also be able to coordinate a plan of care among other ICU team members and communicate effectively with the patient's family. The combination of these skills and knowledge is essential for providing safe and effective care to critically ill patients in the ICU.

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Job Description

Emergency Medicine Physician
Pulmonary/Critical Care Physician
Respiratory Therapist
Cardiovascular Technologist
Clinical Nurse Specialist
Anesthesiologist
Intensive Care Physician
Perioperative Nurse
Neonatologist
Emergency Medical Technician

Skills and Competencies to Have

Knowledge of advanced diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for critically ill patients.
Expertise in the use of mechanical ventilation, hemodynamic monitoring, and other life-support systems.
Ability to interpret laboratory data, radiographic images, and other clinical information.
Ability to manage complex medical and surgical patients in an intensive care setting.
Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary healthcare team.
Excellent communication skills in order to effectively interact with patient families, staff, and other health care professionals.
Knowledge of best practices in intensive care medicine and the ability to incorporate them into patient care.
Ability to recognize and respond quickly to changes in patient condition.
Excellent organizational skills to maintain accurate medical records and manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
Understanding of infection prevention and control principles and their application in the ICU environment.

Intensivists are highly trained physicians who specialize in the care of critically ill patients in intensive care units. As such, they must possess a vast array of skills to be successful. The most important skill for an intensivist to have is the ability to think critically and make decisions quickly, as these patients often require immediate interventions and decisions.

Intensivists must also have a strong knowledge of physiology, pharmacology, and pathology in order to accurately diagnose and manage their patients. Furthermore, good communication and interpersonal skills are essential for successful collaboration with other healthcare professionals, as well as for providing support to patients and their families. Finally, a commitment to staying up-to-date with the latest advancements in medical technology, treatments, and protocols is necessary in order to provide the highest quality of patient care.

With these skills, intensivists can effectively manage the complex medical conditions of their patients, leading to improved outcomes and better quality of life.

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Frequent Interview Questions

What experience do you have as an Intensivist?
What strategies do you use to help critically ill patients?
How do you handle difficult decisions in the ICU?
Describe a situation in which you had to make a difficult decision as an Intensivist.
How do you stay up to date on the latest advances and technologies in critical care medicine?
How do you collaborate with other healthcare professionals when caring for a critically ill patient?
Describe how you handle ethical dilemmas in the ICU.
What measures do you take to ensure timely communication with other healthcare professionals and family members?
How do you respond to stress and challenging situations in the ICU?
How do you monitor patient progress and provide necessary treatments in a timely manner?

Common Tools in Industry

Electronic Medical Records (EMR) Software. software used to store patient medical records electronically, including patient histories, diagnoses, and treatments. (e. g. Epic Systems)
Telemedicine Platforms. systems used to connect physicians and patients remotely for virtual appointments. (e. g. Doxy. me)
Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS). software used to aid clinicians in making decisions about patient care. (e. g. UpToDate)
Critical Care Information Systems (CCIS). systems used to track patient data in intensive care units, including vital signs and lab results. (e. g. Cerner)
Clinical Communication Platforms. software used to facilitate communication between healthcare professionals, including messaging and video conferencing. (e. g. Slack)
Analytics Platforms. systems used to monitor and analyze patient data in order to measure performance and identify trends. (e. g. Tableau)
Remote Patient Monitoring Tools. tools used to collect patient data remotely, including vital signs, activity levels, and sleep patterns. (e. g. AliveCor)

Professional Organizations to Know

American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP)
Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM)
American Thoracic Society (ATS)
European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM)
World Federation of Societies of Intensive and Critical Care Medicine (WFSICCM)
Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society (ANZICS)
Canadian Critical Care Society (CCCS)
International Society of Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine (ISICEM)
American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC)
Asian Pacific Society of Respirology (APSR)

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Common Important Terms

Mechanical Ventilation. A medical process in which a machine is used to provide breathable air to a patient who cannot breathe on their own.
Intensive Care Unit (ICU). A specialized hospital unit that provides intensive medical and nursing care to critically ill or injured patients.
Respiratory Therapy. A branch of medicine focused on helping patients with breathing difficulties, such as asthma or COPD.
Pulmonary Medicine. A branch of medicine focused on the diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting the lungs.
Critical Care Medicine. A specialty focused on the diagnosis and treatment of life-threatening conditions.
Cardiology. A branch of medicine focused on the diagnosis and treatment of heart diseases.
Palliative Care. Medical care focused on providing comfort and support for people living with a serious illness, such as cancer.
Pain Management. A branch of medicine focused on providing relief from chronic or acute pain.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an Intensivist?

An Intensivist is a medical doctor who specializes in the care of critically ill patients in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit).

What type of training and certification is required to become an Intensivist?

To become an Intensivist, a doctor must complete an additional three years of post-graduate training in critical care medicine and pass the Critical Care Medicine Certification Exam administered by the American Board of Anesthesiology.

What type of medical background do Intensivists have?

Intensivists typically have backgrounds in Internal Medicine, Anesthesiology, Emergency Medicine, or Surgery.

What type of duties do Intensivists perform?

Intensivists are responsible for providing comprehensive medical care to critically ill patients, monitoring their condition and medications, making treatment recommendations, and consulting with other medical professionals.

What are the benefits of having an Intensivist on staff?

Having an Intensivist on staff can improve patient outcomes by providing advanced care, reducing medical errors and hospital readmissions, and increasing patient satisfaction.