A core component of the field is providing life-sustaining therapies such as mechanical ventilation, cardiovascular support, and renal replacement therapy. 

Critical care is often a team-based approach, involving intensivists (specialists in critical care medicine), nurses, respiratory therapists, and other specialists. 

Critically ill patients require close monitoring of vital signs and organ function, often using advanced monitoring techniques. 

Critical care medicine raises complex ethical issues related to end-of-life care, advance directives, and patient/family counseling. 

Critical care is a dynamic field with ongoing advancements in technology, treatment strategies, and understanding of disease processes. 

Doctors may pursue specialized training in critical care medicine through fellowships after completing primary training in fields like internal medicine, anesthesiology, or surgery.