Clinical Report: Advancing Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Intensive Care

Overview

The ESICM position statement describes persistent inequities in representation, career opportunities, access to intensive care, and patient outcomes. It calls for practical measures—including structured mentorship, transparent recruitment, comprehensive data collection, inclusive research, and workplace practices that support participation and well-being.

Background

Equity, diversity, and inclusion have received increasing attention in intensive care over the past decade, yet disparities continue to affect clinicians and patients. Diversity includes characteristics beyond gender and ethnicity, such as language, culture, age, disability, socioeconomic status, and sexual orientation or gender identity. The statement distinguishes equity, which accounts for differing barriers and needs, from equality, which offers the same resources or opportunities to everyone. It was prepared by the ESICM Diversity and Inclusion Group, reviewed by Executive Committee members, and approved by the Committee.

Data Highlights

Key Findings

• Diverse, multidisciplinary ICU teams can bring differing perspectives to clinical discussions and produce innovative responses to complex challenges.
• Respect for cultural differences and better communication with patients and families support patient-centred care; workforce and leadership diversity may support communication, engagement, and trust between healthcare institutions and communities.
• Equity for healthcare professionals includes fair access to training, development, support, and career opportunities, while addressing structural barriers. Women and ethnic minority groups remain underrepresented in leadership roles.
• Patient-level equity means that clinical need determines access to appropriate, high-quality care without restriction based on personal characteristics, while maintaining a focus on comparable outcomes.
• The statement identifies structured mentorship, transparent recruitment, and comprehensive data collection as measures to raise awareness and promote systemic change. It also calls for minority-group representation in clinical research to support the applicability and generalizability of findings.
• Inclusion should be embedded in everyday practice. The statement describes initiatives supporting psychological health and work-life balance as showing promise for enhancing job satisfaction and well-being, mitigating burnout, and supporting workforce retention.
• Further measures include equitable committee participation, transparent selection processes for academic and leadership positions, accessible events, diverse event speakers, inclusive leadership training, and measurable indicators of team diversity and climate.

Clinical Implications

The statement identifies structured mentorship, transparent recruitment and selection, comprehensive workforce and patient data collection, and minority-group representation in clinical research as practical approaches to addressing inequities. It also calls for equitable committee participation, accessible events, diverse event speakers, inclusive leadership training, and measurable indicators of team diversity and climate. Everyday inclusion, active listening to underrepresented groups, psychological-health support, work-life balance initiatives, psychological safety, and leadership commitment are also addressed.

Conclusion

The ESICM position statement frames EDI as relevant to both ICU workforce conditions and patient access, care quality, and research applicability. It emphasizes embedding inclusion in everyday practice and addressing structural barriers through concrete organizational measures.

Related Resources & Content

1. European Society of Intensive Care Medicine Diversity and Inclusion Group, ESICM position statement -- Advancing Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Intensive Care
2. Intensive Care Medicine, 2021 -- Promoting Diversity and Inclusion in Multidisciplinary Intensive Care Medicine Across Europe
3. Intensive Care Medicine, 2026 -- Beyond consensus: operationalizing gender equity and equality in intensive care medicine
4. Intensive Care Medicine, 2019 -- Diversity Policy Statement from the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM)
5. Intensive Care Medicine — Fairness in Intensive Care Unit Patient Management
6. Gender equality and equity in intensive care: an international Delphi consensus study
7. Fairness in Intensive Care Unit Patient Management
8. 26-A-13639-ACC SEX AND RACIAL DISPARITIES IN CARDIOGENIC SHOCK: MORTALITY AND MECHANICAL CIRCULATORY SUPPORT META-ANALYSIS | JACC
9. Parenting, pregnancy and work–family balance in intensive care medicine: an ESICM survey and a call for action | Intensive Care Medicine | Springer Nature Link