Critical care and intensive care are terms often used interchangeably, but they can have slightly different meanings depending on the context. Intensive care generally refers to specialized medical treatment provided in a dedicated unit (ICU) for patients with severe, life-threatening illnesses or injuries. Critical care, on the other hand, encompasses a broader range of medical interventions and monitoring aimed at stabilizing and managing critically ill patients, which can occur both in ICUs and other hospital settings. Both terms emphasize the high level of medical attention and monitoring required for patients in severe health conditions.