intensive care unit
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intensive care unit
A special department in a hospital where seriously ill or injured patients are closely medically monitored and treated.
Nach dem schweren Unfall wurde er sofort auf die Intensivstation gebracht.
After the serious accident, he was taken to the intensive care unit immediately.
The word is composed of 'intensiv' (intensive) and 'Station' (ward/unit). So it literally refers to a ward for intensive medical care.
Die Intensivstation ist für Besucher nur eingeschränkt zugänglich.
The intensive care unit is only accessible to visitors on a limited basis.
In everyday hospital language and colloquial speech, the abbreviation 'die Intensiv' is often used.
Der Patient liegt auf der Intensiv.
The patient is in intensive care.
Pay attention to the difference between movement and location: someone is transferred 'auf die Intensivstation' (to the intensive care unit; accusative), but someone lies 'auf der Intensivstation' (in the intensive care unit; dative).
Der Notarzt brachte den Verletzten direkt auf die Intensivstation.
The emergency doctor took the injured person directly to the intensive care unit.
Common verbs in this context are 'auf der Intensivstation liegen' (to be in the intensive care unit), 'auf die Intensivstation verlegt werden' (to be transferred to the intensive care unit), and 'jemanden auf der Intensivstation behandeln' (to treat someone in the intensive care unit).
Die Patientin wird rund um die Uhr auf der Intensivstation überwacht.
The patient is being monitored around the clock in the intensive care unit.
emergency room
'die Notaufnahme' (emergency room) and 'die Intensivstation' (intensive care unit) are both part of a hospital and have to do with serious medical situations. Still, they are not the same thing. You go to the emergency room first when something sudden has happened or there is an acute danger. There, staff quickly check and treat what is going on. Seriously ill or injured patients stay in the intensive care unit when they need constant monitoring and especially intensive treatment. A patient may be transferred from the emergency room to the intensive care unit, but not every patient from the emergency room goes there.
Nach der schweren Operation liegt der Patient noch auf der Intensivstation.
After the serious operation, the patient is still in the intensive care unit.
Nach dem Sturz brachte der Rettungswagen den Jungen direkt in die Notaufnahme.
After the fall, the ambulance took the boy straight to the emergency room.