Guidelines for the construction and management of critical care medicine in China (2025 Edition)

Critical care medicine is a clinical medical discipline that studies the pathogenesis, progression, diagnosis, and management of life-threatening diseases caused by various etiological factors. The Intensive Care Unit (ICU), as the core clinical setting of critical care medicine, is responsible for the full-cycle management of critically ill patients, covering a series of comprehensive measures from early warning to rehabilitation. In 2024, the National Health Commission and seven other ministries jointly issued the "Opinions on Strengthening the Capacity Building of Critical Care Medical Services", promoting the discipline into a new stage of high‑quality development. Based on this, the Chinese Society of Critical Care Medicine (CSCCM) organized domestic experts to discuss and formulate the "Guidelines for the Construction and Management of Critical Care Medicine in China (2025 Edition)." The guidelines focus on core elements of discipline organization and development, covering nine areas: ICU ward construction, ICU admission criteria, staffing and technical requirements for professionals, equipment configuration, quality management, professional training and continuing education, scientific research, response to public health emergencies, and improved service models. The working group initially formed recommended entries through initiation, literature search and screening, and synthesis of medical evidence. The preliminary recommendations were then revised through expert panel reviews, remote and face-to-face meetings, revisions, and finally finalized by voting at the Standing Committee of CSCCM, resulting in the establishment of foundational and developmental discipline construction guidelines. The guidelines apply to ICUs in secondary and above healthcare institutions, providing a scientific framework for discipline planning, construction, and management to enhance the quality of critical care services. Practice guideline registration: Practice Guideline Registration for Transparency (PREPARE-2025CN972).