It Is Time for the US Health Care System to Address Critical and Acute Illness Recovery Engagement Available to Purchase

Advancements in critical care medicine have led to improved survival rates for intensive care unit (ICU) patients.¹  However, ICU survival is often accompanied by new or worsening physical, cognitive, and psychological conditions collectively known as post–intensive care syndrome (PICS). Families and caregivers of survivors also experience significant distress, including high rates of depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress symptoms, often termed post–intensive care syndrome–family (PICS-F).²  Beyond the clinical challenges, a growing body of research highlights the psychosocial and economic factors that influence recovery after critical illness, such as financial stress, social support, and neighborhood wealth.^3–7  Many ICU care guidelines include recommendations for recovery-based practices that have the potential to improve long-term outcomes. For example, the 2021 Surviving Sepsis Campaign recommended post-ICU care strategies, including care coordination, symptom screening, anticipatory guidance, and social and emotional support.⁸  However, many ICU survivors are discharged without structured follow-up or...