The Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) launched another successful Critical Care Congress in February, with its largest attendance on record. Held over five days, nearly 5,000 participants attended stimulating educational sessions, mingled with critical care colleagues from around the world, and learned about the latest technologies and treatments in caring for the critically ill and injured.

World-renowned experts presented the latest findings on critical care topics such as sepsis, renal failure, ARDS, pediatric critical care, trauma, end-of-life, and other acute diseases and conditions. Attendees kicked off their mornings and ended their days by attending industry-supported Daybreak and Evening Panel Discussions, which highlighted current issues and treatment strategies for severe sepsis and septic shock, delirium, end-organ damage, nutrition, and more. In addition to key sessions, Airway Workshops provided an opportunity for attendees to engage in interactive, hands-on training to learn the proper techniques for ventilation.

Seven critical care experts presented Plenary Sessions on important critical care topics. In particular, the Plenary Session, “Renal Replacement Therapy in ARF and Sepsis,” attracted 3,000 attendees (reaching maximum capacity) and highlighted the latest research on acute renal failure (ARF) in ICU patients. Claudio Ronco, MD, presented findings that suggest ARF is more severe in critically ill patients and that preventative measures, such as protection from sepsis, can help improve patient outcome. Dr. Ronco outlined the pros and cons of continuous vs. intermittent renal replacement therapy for critically ill patients and emphasized that a multidisciplinary approach is necessary to appropriately treat patients with ARF.

Sixty-one attendees were trained as instructors in the first Fundamentals of Disaster Management (FDM) course. Participants learned about disaster response to natural and man-made disasters and rotated through three skill stations to learn about decontamination/ personal protection equipment, triage of mass casualties, and recognition of presenting symptoms. A satellite disaster clinic was also set up in one station to demonstrate how disaster victims should be decontaminated and treated.

The Society once again offered its popular two-day refresher courses, the 8th Critical Care Refresher Course and the 2004 Current Concepts in Pediatric Critical Care, both of which reached record attendance this year. Seven Postgraduate Review Courses were the staple of the first two days of Congress, reviewing such topics as Mechanical Ventilation, Health Leadership and Management, and Coding and Billing Practices. In particular, the Postgraduate Review Course on Simulators in Critical Care Education outlined the history of simulation, how simulation can be used within the critical care environment to improve patient safety, and the pros and cons of utilizing simulation in medical education. To complement the simulator course, healthcare professionals can purchase SCCM’s Simulators in Critical Care Education, a one-of-a-kind publication highlighting the use of simulation in graduate medical education, which is due to be released in May.

Margaret M. Parker, MD, FCCM, the Society’s newly-inducted president, discussed the importance of coordination within the multidisciplinary critical care team during her Presidential Address. In addition to addressing the current workforce shortage, Dr. Parker identified the role of technology in the future of critical care. Patient safety was also emphasized in Dr. Parker’s speech, highlighting the Society’s efforts to award grants, publish new guidelines, provide patient and family educational materials, and more, through its Critical Care Education and Research Foundation (CCERF).

The American College of Critical Care Medicine (ACCM) held its annual Town Hall Meeting, which focused on the successes and failures of organizations implementing computerized physician order entry (CPOE) systems. Society and College members Peter Pronovost, MD, PhD, FCCM, M. Michael Shabot, MD, FCCM, and Lena M. Napolitano, MD, FCCM highlighted steps they have taken to integrate CPOE systems, staff training, and order fulfillment in their respective organizations. Key lessons outlined during the session included involving key executives and decision makers during all steps of the process and fostering a culture in hospitals and ICUs where it is acceptable to speak up about errors and concerns. Following the CPOE presentation, new leaders were elected to the College.

The Surviving Sepsis Campaign, an initiative between the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM), the International Sepsis Forum (ISF), and SCCM, released its new guidelines, “Surviving Sepsis Campaign Guidelines for Management of Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock,” which outline standard treatment options for critically ill patients with sepsis. The guidelines were published in the March issue of Critical Care Medicine, and are available on SCCM’s Web site at www.sccm.org.

If you were unable to attend this year’s Congress, post-Congress enduring materials allow you to still obtain continuing education credit: the Society published the Congress Review: Critical Care Issues in March; the Congress Highlights on CD-ROM, supported by Eli Lilly and Company, will capture select speaker presentations accompanied by slides; and an Evening Panel Discussion will be rebroadcast through a Web Cast on SCCM’s Web site this spring. Visit www.sccm.org/education to learn more about these enduring materials, obtain education credit, and explore the Society’s myriad educational opportunities.

2004 Award and Grant Recipients Honored
at SCCM's 33rd Critical Care Congress

Many of the world’s most distinguished critical care leaders were honored on February 22, 2004 at the ACCM Convocation/SCCM Awards Presentation ceremony at the Society’s annual Congress in Orlando, Florida. The Society’s Award and Grant Program was established in 1983 to promote excellence in critical care teaching and research for the improved care of the critically ill and injured. More than $125,000 is awarded annually to critical care practitioners who demonstrate dedication and innovation to the field of critical care.

Awards
American College of Critical Care Medicine Distinguished Investigator Award was awarded to William A. Knaus, MD. This award recognizes an SCCM clinical investigator for meritorious and pioneering clinical research in critical care medicine and contributions to the understanding of disease or treatment of patients.

Asmund S. Laerdal Memorial Lecture Award was awarded to Frederick A. Moore, MD, FCCM. This award commemorates Asmund S. Laerdal, creator of the Rususci-Annie model used in CPR training procedures. The recipient is chosen from the faculty of SCCM’s Critical Care Congress for his or her extensive involvement in critical care research and publishing.

Distinguished Service Awards were awarded to Christopher W. Bryan-Brown, MD, FCCM; Philip D. Lumb, MB, BS, FCCM; Graham Ramsay, MD; William J. Sibbald, MD, CHE, FCCM; and Ann E. Thompson, MD, FCCM. This award recognizes SCCM members who have made exceptional leadership contributions that furthered the vision and mission of SCCM over a period of time.

Dr. Joseph and Rae Brown Award was awarded to John W. Hoyt, MD, FCCM. The award was
established to honor Dr. Joseph and Rae Brown for their work in organizing and sustaining the Pennsylvania Society of Critical Care Medicine (PASCCM), which later became known as the Pennsylvania Chapter of SCCM. This award recognizes an SCCM member who has significantly advanced multidisciplinary quality care for critically ill patients at the regional or local level.

Grenvik Family Award for Ethics was awarded to J. Randall Curtis, MD. This award honors an SCCM member who has promoted the ethical and humane delivery of critical care medicine. The award was established in memory of Dr. Christer Grenvik who died very early in his medical career.

ICU Design Citation Award was awarded to the McMaster Children’s Hospital, Neonatal Unit, Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. A Citation was presented to Lynn Wilson-Orr, VP of Parkin Architect, Limited; Michael Marrin, MD; and Susan Blatz, CNS from McMaster Children’s Hospital. The ICU Design Citation honors critical care units that combine functional ICU design with the humanitarian delivery of critical care. The award is sponsored by SCCM, the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses and the American Institute of Architects.

Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Joseph M. Civetta, MD, FCCM. This award honors SCCM members who have demonstrated meritorious contributions to the field of critical care through the advancement of medical science, medical education or medical care.

Norma J. Shoemaker Award for Critical Care Nursing Excellence was awarded to John M. Clochesy, PhD, RN, FCCM. This award, which honors Norma J. Shoemaker, RN, MN, FCCM, SCCM’s first executive director, recognizes an SCCM nurse member who demonstrates excellence in critical care clinical practice, education and/or administration.

Patient and Family Focused ICU Award was awarded to The Critical Care Center, St. Vincent Hospital, Worchester, Massachusetts. This award recognizes innovation that improves the care provided to critically ill patients and their families. Honorable mentions were awarded to St. John Medical Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and University of Washington School of Medicine, Nursing and Public Health, Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Washington.

Recognition Award was awarded to Inger Grenvik in appreciation for her dedication and long time service to the Society.

Retiring Supplements Editor, John Luce, MD, FCCM, received an award for his distinguished service as the Supplements Editor for Critical Care Medicine for over the past seven years.

Shubin-Weil Award for Excellence was awarded to Julian F. Bion, MBBS, MD. This award recognizes an SCCM member who is an outstanding clinician/ teacher and a role model of excellence in both the teaching and ethical practice of critical care medicine. The award recipient must have substantially furthered the expert and appropriate use of life-support interventions.

Presidential Citations recognize SCCM members who have made extraordinary contributions of time, energy, and resources to SCCM during the previous year. Seventy-three individuals were awarded Presidential Citations:

Published Guideline awards are given each year to task force chairs that have completed and published a guideline. This year, awards were given for the completion and publication of the following guidelines:

• Todd Dorman, MD, FCCM for the completion and publication of the Clinical Practice Guidelines for Critical Care Medicine (CCM) Training and Continuing Medical Education
• Jonathan Warren, MD, FCCM for the completion and publication of the Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Inter- and Intra-Hospital Transport of Critically Ill
• Marilyn T. Haupt, MD, FCCM for the completion and publication of the Clinical Practice Guidelines on Critical Care Services and Personnel: Recommendations Based on a System of Categorization of Three Levels of Care
• Gerald A. Maccioli, MD, FCCM for the completion and publication of the Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Maintenance of Patient Physical Safety in the Intensive Care Unit: Use of Restraining Therapies Grants

Grants
The Society honored the following 2004 grant winners at the American College of Critical Care Medicine’s 15th Annual Convocation and Award Presentation ceremony:

2004 SCCM/Bayer/Joseph F. Dasta Pharmacy Research Grant
The SCCM Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology Section is pleased to announce John Devlin, PharmD, FCCM as the winner of the Joseph F. Dasta Pharmacy Research Grant. Dr. Devlin’s research is titled, “The Efficacy and Safety of Quetiapine in Medical Intensive Care Unit Patients with Hyperactive Delirium: A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebocontrolled Study.” This is the fifth time the Society has presented the Joseph F. Dasta Grant to an SCCM pharmacy member whose research focuses on healthcare outcomes related to critical care pharmacotherapy or pharmacy practice. This grant was made possible through the generous support of Bayer Corporation, Pharmaceuticals Division.

2004 SCCM/Ortho Biotech Critical Care Pharmacy Fellowship
Jill Rebuck, PharmD, BCPS was the winner of the Ortho Biotech Critical Care Pharmacy Fellowship. Dr. Rebuck’s research, “Evaluation of the Trauma Patient Who has Undergone Splenectomy: Do patients understand and acknowledge their risk for severe infection?” and “Randomized Comparison of Dexmedetomidine to Propofol for Short-term Mechanical Ventilation Post-CABG: Efficacy, Cost, and Patient-focused Outcomes.” Established to foster science in critical care and promote fellowship training programs, the award is given annually to an SCCM/CPP member serving as a mentor for a postdoctoral fellowship. This grant was made possible through the generous support of Ortho Biotech Products, L.P.

2004 SCCM Patient Safety Grant
The 2004 SCCM Patient Safety Grant was awarded this year to Neal R. Patel, MD, MPH for his research titled, “Computerized Pediatric Dosing Decision Support in a Pediatric Critical Care Unit.” This grant was established for SCCM members focused on clinical and outcomes research specifically related to improving patient safety in the intensive care unit. Dr. Patel is the third Patient Safety Grant recipient. This grant was made possible through the Society’s
Critical Care Education and Research Foundation.

27 New Fellows Inducted into the American
College of Critical Care Medicine

The American College of Critical Care Medicine (ACCM) held its 15th Annual Convocation Ceremony on February 22, 2004 in Orlando, Florida. Individuals from across the world participated in the convocation ceremony to be inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Critical Care Medicine. The ceremony was shared with family, friends and colleagues.

The prestigious designation of Fellow of the American College of Critical Care Medicine (FCCM) honors practitioners, researchers, administrators, and educators who have made outstanding contributions to the field of critical care. To be accepted as a Fellow of the American College of Critical Care Medicine, each individual must participate in an in-depth review of his or her contributions, leadership and personal commitment to the practice of critical care. Individuals who complete the review process successfully receive the honor of becoming a Fellow of the American College of Critical Care Medicine. Gerard J. Fulda, MD, FCCM was the Chair of the 2004 Credentials Committee. Kathleen M. Kelly, MD, FCCM, Chancellor of the Board of Regents, conferred the FCCM honor on each new Fellow.

2004 Fellows: