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Evolution of the profession of the intensive care specialist: impact on quality of life and working conditions

Abstract

The evolution of the profession of intensive care physician must take into account the physical and psychological well-being, as well as the social needs, of patients and their loved ones through a humanization of care (that is, “care” in its holistic sense), while also considering the needs of those who provide that care. This evolution should enable a transition from merely “doing intensive care,” with its indispensable but potentially dehumanizing technical aspects, to “becoming an intensive care physician,” a mindset that requires training, mentorship (the acquisition of experiential knowledge), and recognition of an increasingly central notion: the “service provided” to the patient. Thus, moving from intensive care as such toward “non–intensive care,” “de-intensive care,” and “post–intensive care follow-up” forms the basis of reflection on the profession of intensive care physician. Through shared multidisciplinary reflection, this approach will help prevent care that is deemed unnecessary, obstructions to quality of care, and a loss of meaning at work, which are all sources of psychological distress, reduced attractiveness of the field, and decreased retention in critical care professions.