Our ICU Team
At UT Southwestern, multidisciplinary ICU teams made up of the following members work together to provide care:
- ICU attending – the doctor specially trained in critical care medicine who makes decisions about your loved one’s care
- ICU fellows – doctors who have completed their medical training and are being further trained in critical care medicine
- Residents – doctors who have completed medical school training
- Nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs), also known as advanced practice providers (APPs) – health care providers trained and experienced in critical care
- ICU registered nurses (RNs) – specialize in critical care and are responsible for day-to-day bedside care
- Respiratory therapists (RTs) – trained to assist patients with breathing problems through breathing exercises and medications, as well as to help with the ventilator
- Pharmacists – providers with specialized expertise to dispense and monitor medications safely for ICU patients
- Physical therapists (PTs) – provide care to regain or maintain physical strength during an acute illness or after surgery
- Occupational therapists (OTs) – evaluate and help patients care for themselves as much as possible, including working on skills needed for everyday activities
- Registered dietitians (RDs) – health care professionals trained in nutritional care for critically ill patients
- Patient care technicians (PCTs) – assistive personnel who help nurses and provide patients with bedside care
- Care coordinators – health care professionals who support patients and families in organizing care needed after being discharged from the hospital
