intensive care

noun

1

: the continuous monitoring and treatment of critically ill or injured patients using special medical facilities, equipment, and services

Many of the sickest patients need intensive care, even to the point of being connected to a mechanical respirator.

—Lawrence K. Altman

2

: a designated area in a hospital providing intensive care : intensive care unit

heart patients in intensive care

… short of breath and feverish, doctors isolated him in intensive care.

—Elisabeth Rosenthal

—often hyphenated when used before another noun

an intensive-care nurse

Examples of intensive care in a Sentence

Her condition will require intensive care.

Recent Examples on the Web

Of those seven, one was a Doral police officer and one was a father and husband who was put in a hospital’s intensive care unit. —Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 19 Apr. 2024

Two were hospitalized, and one needed to be admitted to an intensive care unit. —Erika Edwards, NBC News, 19 Apr. 2024

Our research found that many hospitals forgo the cost and complexity of procuring, storing, and disbursing donor milk to infants in intensive care units, leaving large populations without access to this treatment. —Sionika Thayagabalu and Dominick Lemas, STAT, 18 Apr. 2024

Naomi Ragsdale, a nurse, and infection control expert, identified this technology and led its integration into the intensive care setting. —Chris Gallagher, USA TODAY, 18 Apr. 2024

Pulse oximeters are helpful devices that can help check heart rates and oxygen saturations for patients with underlying heart or chronic lung conditions, says Thomas Yadegar, M.D., medical director of the intensive care unit at Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center. —Sarah Bradley, Health, 16 Apr. 2024

The girl has since been moved out of intensive care, according to the outlet. —Liam Quinn, Peoplemag, 16 Apr. 2024

Charlotte Catholic High School said on social media the two students were in the intensive care unit. —Jeff A. Chamer, Charlotte Observer, 8 Apr. 2024

The infection landed her in the intensive care unit and nearly killed her. —Jessica Van Egeren, Journal Sentinel, 12 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1954, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

intensive care

noun

: continuous monitoring and treatment of seriously ill patients using special medical equipment and services

also : a unit in a hospital providing intensive care

Medical Definition

intensive care

1 of 2 noun

1

: the continuous monitoring and treatment of critically ill or injured patients using special medical facilities, equipment, and services

She required intensive care and survived without sequelae.

—The Journal of the American Medical Association

2

: a designated area in a hospital providing intensive care : intensive care unit

heart patients in intensive care

a patient isolated in intensive care

He spent several days in intensive care before recovering from the overdose.

—Jerome Groopman

intensive care

2 of 2 adjective

variants also intensive-care

: providing or concerned with continuous monitoring and treatment of critically ill or injured patients using special medical facilities, equipment, and services

intensive care medicine

an intensive-care nurse

also : receiving medical care in an intensive care unit

intensive care patients

compare acute care, chronic care