Over the past 20 years, critical care has matured in a myriad of ways resulting in dramatically higher survival rates for our sickest patients. For millions of new survivors comes de novo suffering and disability called "the post-intensive care syndrome." The most productive aspect of the philosophy of ICU liberation for us as clinicians is that it shifts our focus from the monitors, beeps, and buzzers to a human connection. The holistic approach to ICU liberation also includes providing a comfortable and dignified dying process via early use of palliative care for our patients who will not be able to survive their critical illness. SCCM’s ICU liberation is about magnifying human dignity and helping to preserve self-worth in patients who during the course of critical illness feel threats to both.

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