SCCM Pod-90 New End-of-Life Guidelines
Robert D. Truog, MD, MA, discusses new guidelines published in the March 2008 issue of Critical Care Medicine, "Recommendations for End-of-Life Care in the ICU." Dr. Truog is professor of medical ethics and anesthesia (pediatrics) at Harvard Medical School and senior associate in critical care medicine at Children's Hospital Boston in Massachusetts. (Crit Care Med. 2008;36:953-963)

SCCM Pod-89 eNewsletter for the week of January 17, 2008
The Society of Critical Care Medicine's eNewsletter provides members of the critical care community with vital news relevant to their practice as well as updates on Society activities and programs.

SCCM Pod-88 PCCM: Organ Donation After Cardiac Death - Part 2
Martha A.Q. Curley, RN, PhD, associate professor of nursing, anesthesia and critical care medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and nurse scientist at Children's Hospital in Boston, discusses an article published in the May 2007 issue of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, "Pediatric staff perspectives on organ donation after cardiac death in children." (Ped. Crit. Care Med. 2007;8[3]:212).

SCCM Pod-87 Managing Pulmonary Hypertension
Roham T. Zamanian, MD, discusses an article published in the September 2007 issue of Critical Care Medicine, titled "Management strategies for patients with pulmonary hypertension in the ICU." Dr. Zamanian is acting assistant professor of medicine at Stanford University Medical Center. (Crit Care Med. 2007;35[9]:2037)

SCCM Pod-86 Message from the 2007 President
SCCM President Frederick P. Ognibene, MD, FCCM, shares his experiences and accomplishments as president, offers his vision for the Society and discusses current topics in critical care. Dr. Ognibene is director of the office of clinical research training and medical education at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center and the director of clinical research training program. He also is an attending in the medical intensive care unit at the NIH Clinical Center.

SCCM Pod-85 PCCM: Organ Donation After Cardiac Death - Part 1
Peter C. Laussen, MD, discusses an article published in the May 2007 issue of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, titled "Pediatric Staff Perspectives on Organ Donation After Cardiac Death in Children." Dr. Laussen is director of the cardiac intensive care unit at Children's Hospital Boston. This is the first podcast in a two-part interview. Part two will feature an interview with lead author Martha A.Q. Curley, RN, PhD. (Ped. Crit. Care Med. 2007;8[3]:212).

SCCM Pod-84 CCM: Economic Evaluation of Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation
Christopher Cox, MD, and Shannon Carson, MD, discuss an article published in the August 2007 issue of Critical Care Medicine, titled "An economic evaluation of prolonged mechanical ventilation." Dr. Cox, the lead author of this article, is an assistant professor at Duke University and Dr. Carson is an associate professor at the University of North Carolina. (Crit Care Med 2007; 35(8):1918).

SCCM Pod-83 Preventing Acute Renal Failure
John Kellum, MD, FCCM, a professor at the University of Pittsburgh, discusses his article from the August 2007 issue of Critical Connections, "Preventing Acute Renal Failure." (Crit Conn. 2007;6[4]:1).

  SCCM Pod-82 eNewsletter for the week of August 16, 2007
The Society of Critical Care Medicine’s eNewsletter provides members of the critical care community with vital news relevant to their practice as well as updates on Society activities and programs.

  SCCM Pod-81 CCM: Knowledge Translation in Critical Care
Roy Ilan, MD, assistant professor in the department of internal medicine at Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, discusses his article published in the July 2007 issue of Critical Care Medicine, "Knowledge Translation in Critical Care: Factors Associated with Prescription of Commonly Recommended Best Practices for Critically Ill Patients."  Carolyn Bekes, MD, FCCM, senior vice president of academic affairs at the Cooper Health System in Camden, New Jersey, joins the interview as the author of an accompanying editorial. (Ilan R, et al. Crit Care Med. 2007; 35: 1696)

  SCCM Pod-80 PCCM: Adrenal Status in Children with Septic Shock
Jerry Zimmerman, MD, PhD, FCCM, discusses an article published in the January 2007 issue of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, titled "Adrenal Status in Children with Septic Shock Using Low Dose Stimulation Test." Dr. Zimmerman is professor of pediatric critical care medicine at the University of Utah.  Dr. Zimmerman is director of pediatric critical care medicine at Children’s Hospital Regional Medicine Center in Seattle, Washington. (Sarthi M, et al. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2007; 8:84)

  SCCM Pod-79 What's New in Delirium Management
Wesley Ely, MD, FCCM, discusses new developments in delirium management, focusing on his presentation at the 36th Critical Care Congress. Dr. Ely is a professor in the department of medicine at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and an outcomes researcher with the Vanderbilt Center for Health Services Research.  His presentation was summarized in the Congress Review, which offers education credit. Crit Conn 2007;6(3):22

  SCCM Pod-78 Antibiotic Treatment for Severe Acute Necrotizing Pancreatitis
The Society of Critical Care Medicine's president-elect Phil Barie, MD, MBA, FCCM, discusses a study published in Annals of Surgery, titled "Early Antibiotic Treatment for Severe Acute Necrotizing Pancreatitis."  Dr. Barie is professor of surgery and public health at Weill Medical College of Cornell University in New York and was a co-author in this important study.  (Ann Surg. 2007; 245: 674)

  SCCM Pod-77 CCM: Sepsis Bundles Associated With Decreased Mortality
H. Bryant Nguyen, MD, associate professor of emergency medicine at Loma Linda University in California, discusses an article published in the April 2007 edition of Critical Care Medicine, Implementation of a Bundle of Quality Indicators for the Early Management of Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock is Associated with Decreased Mortality.(Crit Care Med. 2007;35(4):1105).

  SCCM Pod-76 eNewsletter for the week of June 7, 2007
The Society of Critical Care Medicine’s eNewsletter provides members of the critical care community with vital news relevant to their practice as well as updates on Society activities and programs.

  SCCM Pod-75 CCM: Spiritual Care in the ICU
Richard J. Wall, MD, MPH, and Nancy Chambers, MDiv, discuss an article published in the April issue of Critical Care Medicine titled Spiritual Care of Families in the ICU.  Dr. Wall is a senior research fellow in the division of pulmonary of critical care medicine and Reverend Chambers is the director of spiritual care in the University of Washington Healthcare System. (Crit Care Med 2007;35 (4):1084)

  SCCM Pod-74 PCCM: The Collaborative Pediatric Critical Care Research Network
Douglas Willson, MD, discusses an article he published in the July 2006 issue of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, "The Collaborative Pediatric Critical Care Research Network." Dr. Willson is medical director of the pediatric intensive care unit at the University of Virginia Health Sciences Center and the chairman of the Steering Committee for the Collaborative Pediatric Critical Care Research Network. (Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2006; 7:301).

  SCCM Pod-73 2007 Congress Special: Presidential Address
Frederick P. Ognibene, MD, FCCM, outlines his goals and aspirations for the Society during his presidential address at the 36th Critical Care Congress in Orlando, Florida, USA.

  SCCM Pod-72 PCCM: Family Presence During Pediatric CPR
Susan Bratton, MD, MPH, discusses an editorial published in the September 2006 issue of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, "Physician Experience with Family Presence During Pediatric Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation." Dr. Bratton is professor of pediatric critical care medicine at the University of Utah. (Niranjan K. Ped Crit Care Med. 2006;7:505).

  SCCM Pod-71 eNewsletter for the week of April 19, 2007
The Society of Critical Care Medicine’s eNewsletter provides members of the critical care community with vital news relevant to their practice as well as updates on Society activities and programs.

  SCCM Pod-70 PCCM: Childhood Obesity and Severe Asthma
Christopher Carroll, MD, discusses an article published in Pediatric Critical Care Medicine titled, "Childhood Obesity Increases Duration Of Therapy During Severe Asthma Exacerbations." Dr. Carroll is a pediatric intensivist at Connecticut Children's Medical Center. (Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2006:527-31)

  SCCM Pod-69 2007 Congress Special: Epinephrine Versus Norepinephrine for Septic Shock
Djillali Annane, MD, discusses a study on epinephrine versus norepinephrine for septic shock he presented during the 36th Critical Care Congress. Dr. Annane is professor of critical care Raymond Poincare Hospital in Garches, France.

  SCCM Pod-68 eNewsletter for the week of April 5, 2007
The Society of Critical Care Medicine’s eNewsletter provides members of the critical care community with vital news relevant to their practice as well as updates on Society activities and programs.

 SCCM Pod-67 PCCM: Lower Limit of Systolic and Mean Arterial Pressure in Children
Arno Zaritsky, MD, discusses an article he and Dr. Ikram Haque published in the March 2007 issue of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine titled "Analysis of the Evidence for Lower Limit of Systolic and Mean Arterial Pressure in Children." Dr. Zaritsky is professor and chief of pediatric critical care at the University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville, Florida.

 SCCM Pod-66 2007 Congress Special: Furosemide and Albumin in ARDS
Gregory Martin, MD, discusses some of the topics from his presentation during the 36th Critical Care Congress, "Furosemide and Albumin in ARDS." Dr. Martin is assistant professor of medicine at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, and the section head of pulmonary and critical care division at Grady Memorial Hospital where he is also the director of the medical and coronary ICUs.

  SCCM Pod-65 2007 Congress Special: Cooling the Neurosurgical Patient
Stephan Mayer, MD, FCCM, discusses cooling the neurological patient. Dr. Mayer is director of the neurological intensive care unit at Columbia University Medicine Center and he is an associate professor in neurology and neurosurgery Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. He presented during the 36th Critical Care Congress on this topic.

  SCCM Pod-64 2007 Congress Special: Anemia in the ICU
Howard Corwin, MD, FCCM, discusses hematological issues and anemia in the critically ill and injured. Dr. Corwin professor of medicine and section chief of critical care medicine at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in New Hampshire and presented during the 36th Critical Care Congress on this topic.

  SCCM Pod-63 Gastric Versus Intestinal Feedings
John Mazuski, MD, FCCM, and Beth Taylor, MS, RD, CNSD, FCCM, discuss their article published in the February 2007 issue of Critical Connections, titled "Gastric vs. Intestinal Feeding: Does it Make a Difference?" Dr. Mazuski is a professor of surgery at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, and Ms. Taylor is a nutrition support dietitian at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. Crit Conn. 2007;6(1):10

  SCCM Pod-62 Simple Measures Can Decrease Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infections
Peter Pronovost, MD, PhD, FCCM, discusses his article published in the December 28 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, titled "An Intervention to Decrease Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infections in the ICU." Dr. Pronovost and researchers showed through this study that simple measures, such as hand washing, can have a dramatic effect in reducing bloodstream infections. They focused on improved teamwork between doctors, nurses and other intensive care unit professionals, collecting data from 103 Michigan hospitals for up to 18 months. NEJM. 2006 355(26):2725-2732

  SCCM Pod-61 eNewsletter for the week of February 1, 2007
The Society of Critical Care Medicine’s eNewsletter provides members of the critical care community with vital news relevant to their practice as well as updates on Society activities and programs.

  SCCM Pod-60 eNewsletter for the week of January 18, 2007
The Society of Critical Care Medicine’s eNewsletter provides members of the critical care community with vital news relevant to their practice as well as updates on Society activities and programs.

  SCCM Pod-59: Message from the 2007 President
Frederick P. Ognibene, MD, FCCM, discusses his goals as the Society's president for 2007 as well as his decades-long involvement in SCCM and the critical care community. Dr. Ognibene is director of the office of clinical research training and medical education at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Center and the director of clinical research training program, OIR. He also is an attending in the medical intensive care unit at the NIH Clinical Center.

2006 Podcasts

  SCCM Pod-58 CC: Cardiology Pharmacotherapies
William Dager, PharmD, and John S. MacGregor, MD, PhD, discuss an article in the December 2006 issue of Critical Connections, titled "Recent Advances in Cardiology Pharmacotherapies for the ICU Clinician." The article was written by Joseph Dasta, PharmD, from The Ohio State University, and Jaclyn LeBlanc, PharmD, BCPS, from The University of Oklahoma.  Dr. Dager is a pharmacist specialist at UC Davis Medical Center and a clinical professor of pharmacy at UC San Francisco School of Pharmacy. Dr. MacGregor is a professor of medicine in the division of cardiology at the University of California San Francisco Medical Center and is director of the cardiac catheterization laboratory at San Francisco General Hospital.Crit Conn. 2006;5(6):14

  SCCM Pod-57 CCM: Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia
Stanley Nasraway, MD, FCCM, discusses an article in the December issue of Critical Care Medicine "Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in the critical care setting: Diagnosis and management." This article offers continuing medical educational credit. Crit Care Med. 2006 34(12):2898-2911

  SCCM Pod-56 eNewsletter for the week of December 7, 2006
The Society of Critical Care Medicine’s eNewsletter provides members of the critical care community with vital news relevant to their practice as well as updates on Society activities and programs.

  SCCM Pod-55 Enteral Therapy to Treat Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Eric Pacht, MD, discuss an editorial published in the September issue of Critical Care Medicine, "Enteral therapy to decrease morbidity and improve survival in acute respiratory distress syndrome: Its time has come." Dr. Pacht is a pulmonary and critical care specialist and the director of the intensive care unit at Licking Memorial Hospital in Ohio. Crit Care Med. 2006;34(9):2292-2493

  SCCM Pod-54 Managing Trauma Patients
Saraswati Dayal, MD, and Edwin Deitch, MD, discuss an article published in the September issue of Critical Care Medicine, "ICU  management of the trauma patient.." The review examines closely the most important intensive care unit issues and approaches unique to trauma patients. Dr. Dayal is an attending in trauma and surgical critical care at Hacksensack University Memorial Center in New Jersey. Dr. Deitch is professor and chairman of the department of surgery at the New Jersey Medical School of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Crit Care Med. 2006;34(9):2294-2301

  SCCM Pod-53 Reducing Medication Errors in the ICU
Yizhak Kupfer, MD, discusses his lecture, to be held during the 36th Critical Care Congress, "Reduction of Medication Errors in the Intensive Care Unit." Dr. Kupfer is an associate professor of medicine at SUNY Downstate School of Medicine and is the director of the medical intensive care unit at Maimonides Medical Center in New York, New York.

  SCCM Pod-52 eNewsletter for the week of November 16, 2006
The Society of Critical Care Medicine’s eNewsletter provides members of the critical care community with vital news relevant to their practice as well as updates on Society activities and programs.

  SCCM Pod-51 SCCM Members Launch Major Sepsis Study
Derek Angus, MD, MPH, discusses a new, multicenter research consortium, called Protocolized Care for Early Septic Shock (ProCESS). The consortium is beginning a large-scale study to determine whether specific interventions can halt the progression to severe sepsis and septic shock. Dr. Angus along with SCCM members Mitchell Fink, MD, and Donald Yealy, MD, will lead a team of intensive care unit and emergency department personnel. The study is likely to offer valuable insight on the best ways to treat sepsis and the value of early goal-directed therapy. Dr. Angus is vice chairman of research for the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine's critical care department. Crit Conn. 2006;5(6):5

  SCCM Pod-50 2007 Congress Keynotes Up Close: Simon Finfer
Simon Finfer, MD, MBBS, MRCP, is one of the prominent keynote speakers set to present during the 36th Critical Care Congress February 17 to 21, 2007. He discusses his keynote presentation "The Clinical Role of Albumin in the Critically Ill" as well as his latest critical care endeavors. Dr. Fifner is a senior staff specialist in intensive care at Royal North Shore Hospital of Sydney. Dr Finfer received his training from London University and Westminster Medical School, London University. He also trained in pediatric intensive care at the world-renowned Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada. 

  SCCM Pod-49 Responding to NEJM's Article on the SSC
Mitchell Levy, MD, FCCM, discusses a perspectives article published in the October 19, 2006, issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, titled "Surviving Sepsis—Practice Guidelines, Marketing Campaigns, and Eli Lilly," which criticizes the campaign and its major funding source, Eli Lilly. NEJM. 2006;355(16):1640-1642

  SCCM Pod-48 eNewsletter for the week of November 2, 2006
The Society of Critical Care Medicine’s eNewsletter provides members of the critical care community with vital news relevant to their practice as well as updates on Society activities and programs.

  SCCM Pod-47 2007 Congress Keynotes Up Close: Patrick Kochanek
Patrick Kochanek, MD, FCCM, is one of the prominent keynote speakers set to present during the 36th Critical Care Congress February 17 to 21, 2007. He discusses his presentation, "Emergency Preservation for Resuscitation: Beyond CPR," as well as his background and expertise in critical care. Dr. Kochanek is director of the Safar Center for Resuscitation Research and is a tenured professor in the department of critical care medicine with secondary appointments in pediatrics and anesthesiology as well as the editor of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine.

  SCCM Pod-46 2007 Congress Keynotes Up Close: Daren Heyland
Daren Heyland, MD, MSc, is of the prominent keynote speakers set to present during the 36th Critical Care Congress, to be held February 17 to 21, 2007. He discusses his presentation, "Pharmaco-Nutrition: A New Emerging Paradigm," and offers insight into his background and accomplishments in critical care. Dr. Heyland is professor of medicine at Queens University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

  SCCM Pod-45 eNewsletter for the week of September 21, 2006
The Society of Critical Care Medicine’s eNewsletter provides members of the critical care community with vital news relevant to their practice as well as updates on Society activities and programs.

  SCCM Pod-44 CCM: The Role of Weaning
Maged A. Tanios, MD, discusses his article, "A randomized, controlled trial of the role of weaning: Predictors in clinical decision making," from the October issue of Critical Care Medicine. Dr. Tanios is the director of the ICU at St. Mary Medical Center and assistant professor of medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine. Crit. Care Med. 2006;34(10):2530-2535

  SCCM Pod-43 eNewsletter for the week of September 7, 2006
The Society of Critical Care Medicine’s eNewsletter provides members of the critical care community with vital news relevant to their practice as well as updates on Society activities and programs.

  SCCM Pod-42 Message from the President
Charles Durbin Jr., MD, FCCM, president of SCCM, shares his insights on some of the highlights from the past year and discusses the future of SCCM with the membership. Dr. Durbin is more than halfway through his SCCM presidency in a year that has been marked by many accomplishments in the critical care community. In addition to his seat at the helm of Society, Dr. Durbin is professor of anesthesiology and surgery and medical director of respiratory care at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville.

  SCCM Pod-41 CCM: Tough Decisions at the End of Life
Douglas White, MD, discusses his article in the August issue of Critical Care Medicine, "Decisions to Limit Life-Sustaining Treatment for Critically Ill Patients Who Lack Both Decision-Making Capacity and Surrogate Decision Makers." Dr. White is an assistant professor of medicine at the University of California San Francisco Medical Center. Crit Care Med. 2006;34(8):2053-2059

  SCCM Pod-40 CCM: Initial Antimicrobial Treatment of MRSA
Marin Kollef, MD, professor of medicine in the department of pulmonary and critical care medicine at the Washington University School of Medicine and director of medical critical care at Barnes-Jewish Hospital, discusses his article in the August issue of Critical Care Medicine, "Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Sterile-Site Infection: The Importance of Appropriate Initial Antimicrobial Treatment." Crit Care Med. 2006;34(8):2069-2074

  SCCM Pod-39 CC: Revising the Surviving Sepsis Guidelines
Phillip Dellinger, MD, FCCM, professor of medicine at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and director of the critical care section at Cooper University Hospital, and Roman Jaeschke, MD, a clinical professor at McMaster University discuss an article published in the August issue of Critical Connections. The article, "Revising the Surviving Sepsis Guidelines: A Closer Look," details the guideline revision process.Crit Conn. 2006;5(4):20

  SCCM Pod-38 CPOE and Error Detection
Terry Clemmer, MD, FCCM, discusses computerized physician order entry and error detection in the intensive care unit. This podcast was recorded during the Society's 35th Critical Care Congress and released to complement the Excellence in Quality and Safety in Critical Care conference to be held September 21 to 23, 2006. Dr. Clemmer is the director of critical care at LDS Hospital in Utah and professor of medicine at the University of Utah School of Medicine.

  SCCM Pod-37 Thoughts on the FACTT Trial
Gordon Bernard, MD, shares his thoughts on the recently released Fluid And Catheter Treatment Trial or FACTT trial published in the May issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. The Society of Critical Care Medicine conducted this interview as part of its commitment to translating research to the bedside. Dr. Bernard serves as the steering committee chairman for ARDSNet, the group that published this study, and he shares his insight on its importance and future impact on critical care. Dr. Bernard also is the Melinda Owen Bass professor of pulmonary medicine, assistant vice-chancellor for research and director of the division of allergy, pulmonary, and critical care medicine at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Tennessee. NEJM. 2006; 354:2213-2224 and NEJM. 2006; 354: 2564-2575

  SCCM Pod-36 CC: Rapid Response Systems
Marie R. Baldisseri, MD, an intensivist from the University of Pittsburgh, discusses her article from the June 2006 issue of Critical Connections, titled "Rapid Response Systems: Have They Made a Difference?" Dr. Baldisseri is an associate professor of critical care medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Crit Conn. 2006;5(3):6

  SCCM Pod-35 CCM: Cooling After Cardiac Arrest
Raina M. Merchant, MD, a resident in emergency medicine at the University of Chicago, and Benjamin S. Abella, MD, an assistant professor of medicine in the section of emergency medicine at the University of Chicago, discuss their article published in the July 2006 issue of Critical Care Medicine. The article, "Therapeutic Hypothermia Utilization Among Physicians After Resuscitation From Cardiac Arrest," addresses whether physicians are cooling patients after cardiac arrest. Crit Care Med. 2006;34(5):1935-1940

  SCCM Pod-34 CCM: Lorazepam vs. Propofol
Shannon S. Carson, MD, assistant professor of medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and associate medical director of the medical and respiratory ICUs at the UNC Medical Center, as well as John P. Kress, MD, assistant professor of medicine at the University of Chicago, discuss their article from the May 2006 Critical Care Medicine, "A Randomized Trial of Intermittent Lorazepam vs. Propofol With Daily Interruption in Mechanically Ventilated Patients." Crit Care Med. 2006:34(5):1326-1332

  SCCM Pod-33 CC: Patient Safety and CPOE
Brian Jacobs, MD, project director of Integrating Clinical Information Systems, or ICIS, at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, discusses how efforts in computerized physician order entry relate to patient safety. The ICIS system is a computer-based system implemented throughout the hospital through which all medical orders are entered and documented electronically. The system, believed to be the most comprehensive in any pediatric hospital in the United States, is expected to reduce medical errors significantly.

  SCCM Pod-32 CC: Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infections
Vera De Palo, MD, outlines several common questions healthcare professionals should consider to help prevent catheter-related bloodstream infections in the ICU. Her article "Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infections: Can We Make it Safer For Our Patients?" appears in the April 2006 issue of Critical Connections. Dr. DePalo is associate chief of medicine and director of critical care at Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island. She also is an associate professor of medicine at Brown Medical School. Crit Conn. 2006 5(2):1

  SCCM Pod-31 CC: Prophylactic Antimicrobial Use in the ICU
Phil Barie, MD, MBA, FCCM, discusses his article from the April 2006 issue of Critical Connections on antibiotic prophylaxis. He addresses when this therapy is most useful as well as the consequences of overuse. Dr. Barie is professor of surgery and public health at Weill Medical College of Cornell University in New York City, and he sits on the executive committee of the Society of Critical Care Medicine. Crit Conn. 2006:.5(2):1

  SCCM POD-30 CCM: Hospital Mortality Assessment
Jack Zimmerman, MD, FCCM, discusses his article in the May 2006 issue of Critical Care Medicine, "Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (or APACHE IV): Hospital Mortality Assessment for Today's Critically Ill Patients." Dr. Zimmerman is professor emeritus of anesthesia and critical care medicine at George Washington University Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Crit Care Med. 2006:(34)5:1297-1310

  SCCM Pod-29 CCM: Rationing in the ICU
Robert Truog, MD, discusses his article in the April 2006 issue of Critical Care Medicine, "Rationing in the Intensive Care Unit." Dr. Truog is professor of medical ethics and anesthesia, pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, Children's Hospital Boston. The article focuses on how ICU caregivers distribute resources in the ICU. Crit Car Med. 2006;34(4):958-963

  SCCM Pod-28 CCM: Morbid Obesity and the Surgical Critical Patient
Stanley Nasraway, MD, FCCM, discusses his article published in the April issue of Critical Care Medicine, titled "Morbid Obesity Is an Independent Determinant of Death Among Surgical Critically Ill Patients." Dr. Nasraway is associate professor of surgery, medicine and anesthesia at Tufts University and chief of the surgical intensive care units at Tufts-New England Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts. His article addresses the growing number of morbidly obese patients entering the intensive care unit and suggests that customized processes be developed to address this unique and challenging patient population. Crit Care Med. 2006;34(4):964-970

  SCCM Pod-27 CCM: Dopamine's Influence on the Outcome of Shock
Jean-Louis Vincent, MD, PhD, FCCM, discusses an article from the March issue of Critical Care Medicine, "Does Dopamine Administration in Shock Influence Outcome? Results of the Sepsis Occurrence in Acutely Ill Patients (SOAP) Study." Crit Care Med. 2006;34(3):589-597

  SCCM Pod-26 PCCM: Assessing Sedation Levels of Mechanically Ventilated Pediatric Patients
Martha Curley, RN, PhD, discusses her article in the March 2006 issue of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, titled "State Behavioral Scale: A Sedation Assessment Instrument for Infants and Young Children Supported on Mechanical Ventilation." Dr. Curley, director of nursing research in critical care and cardiovascular nursing research at The Children’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, is a recognized expert in pediatric critical care nursing. She discusses the development and validation of the State Behavioral Scale, a tool used in the evaluation of the level of sedation in pediatric patients requiring mechanical ventilation. Ped Care Med. 2006;7(2):107-114

  SCCM Pod-25 Defining and Treating Abdominal Compartment Syndrome
Michael Cheatham, MD, FCCM, is director of the surgical trauma intensive care unit at Orlando Regional Medical Center in Florida. He discusses his article published in the February 2006 issue of Critical Connections titled, "Consensus Definitions for Intra-Abdominal Hypertension and Abdominal Compartment Syndrome." Dr. Cheatham is vice president of the World Society of the Abdominal Compartment Syndrome and has studied the impact of elevated intra-abdominal pressures for more than a decade. Crit Conn. 2006;5(1):7

  SCCM Pod-24 Implementing the Surviving Sepsis Campaign
Michael Gropper, MD, PhD, is director of critical care medicine for the University of California San Francisco Medical Center and professor of medicine and anesthesiology at the medical school. He is one of the many healthcare professionals who have found success in implementing the Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines and discusses the strategies for implementation as well as the challenges his institution faced.

  SCCM Pod-23 Preventing Pediatric Trauma
Anthony Slonim, MD, DrPH, FCCM, and Angela Hsu, MD, both from the Children's National Medical Center at the George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C., discuss their article in the February 2006 issue of Critical Connections, titled "Preventing Pediatric Trauma: The Role of the Critical Care Professional." They focus on the different levels of prevention in this patient population and how critical care professionals can play a more active role in making sure fewer young patients are treated for trauma. Crit Conn. 2006;.5(1):10

  SCCM Pod-22 Early Indicators of Sepsis Survival
Mitchell Levy, MD, FCCM, and Jean-Louis Vincent, MD, PhD, FCCM, discuss their article in the October 2006 issue of Critical Care Medicine. The article, "Early Changes in Organ Function Predict Eventual Survival in Severe Sepsis," can help clinicians identify variables associated with good outcomes in sepsis. The authors explain that if patients with sepsis are not getting better at the end of 24 hours, they may be getting worse. Crit Care Med. 2005;33(10):2194-2201

  SCCM Pod-21 Congress Keynotes Up Close: ARDSNet Successes and Challenges
Gordon Bernard, MD, serves as the ARDSNet Steering Committee Chairman and shared his knowledge of the ARDSNet project with attendees of the 35th Critical Care Congress during his keynote presentation,"ARDSNet: Success and Challenges of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's First Critical Care Research Network." Dr. Bernard is the Melinda Owen Bass professor of pulmonary medicine, assistant vice-chancellor for research and director of the division of allergy, pulmonary, and critical care medicine at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Tennessee.

  SCCM Pod-20 Critical Care in Combat
Lt. Col. Chet Morrison, MD, director of surgical critical care at Michigan State University, shares his experiences serving as a military surgeon in Iraq and gives insight to critical care in combat settings.

  SCCM Pod-19 Congress Keynotes Up Close: The Courts and End of Life
Timothy Quill, MD, one of seven prominent critical care leaders presenting during the plenary sessions at the 35th Critical Care Congress, discusses the Terry Schiavo case and how courts have played a role in end-of-life decision making. Dr. Quill is a professor of medicine, psychiatry and medical humanities, as well as the director of the Center for Palliative Care and Clinical Ethics at the University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, N.Y.

 Message from the SCCM Leadership: The Future of Critical Care and SCCM
The Society's of Critical Care Medicine's incoming president, Charles Durbin Jr., MD, FCCM, discusses the goals he would like to help the Society achieve as well as current topics in the profession, including implementing guidelines in critical care and utilizing the multiprofessional team.

2005 Podcasts

December 2005 CC: Improving Family Conferences about End of Life
J. Randall Curtis, MD, MPH, discusses his article in the December 2005 issue of Critical Connections, "Improving Family Conferences About End of Life Care in the ICU." Dr. Curtis is the director of the end-of-life research program at the University of Washington in Seattle. He shares advice on how healthcare professionals can build trust with families with open and honest conversations about patient care and offers techniques and procedures associated with "successful" family conferences. Crit Conn 2005;4(6):5

December 2005 CC: Getting Our ICU Language Straight
Karin Kirchhoff, MSN, PhD, discusses her article published in the December 2005 issue of Critical Connections, "Getting Our ICU Language Straight." Dr. Kirchhoff is a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Nursing. She discusses how every member of the multiprofessional team can improve families' experiences at the end of life by being sensitive to the language they use and involving the family at every stage of care. Crit Conn 2005;4(6):1

December 2005 CC: Pediatric End of Life
Robert Truog, MD, FCCM, discusses his article published in the December 2005 issue of Critical Connections, "Pediatric End of Life: Special Needs for Special Children." Dr. Truog is professor of medical ethics and anesthesia, pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, Children's Hospital Boston. He discusses the unique challenges faced in the pediatric intensive care unit by physicians and family members. Crit Conn 2005;4(6);9

Message from the SCCM President: Closing Thoughts
The Society of Critical Care Medicine’s president, Peter Angood, MD, FCCM, discusses the growth and success of the Society as he prepares to pass the leadership torch at the end of the year. He cites the Society’s growing international scope, its collaboration with other organizations and its Right Care, Right Now^TM campaign as being among SCCM’s most distinguishable accomplishments.

PCCM: The 1st International Sepsis Forum on Sepsis in Infants and Children with Dr. Adrienne Randolph
Adrienne Randolph, MD, MSc, served as guest editor for the May 2005 supplement of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine. Dr. Randolph shares her thoughts on the importance of the 1st International Sepsis Forum on Sepsis in Infants and Children and the Pediatric Acute Lung Injury and Sepsis Investigator’s (PALISI) Network. She also highlights the most important aspects from the supplement, which she played such an instrumental role in producing. Ped Crit Care Med. 2005;6(3) (Suppl S1-S2)

Congress Keynotes Up Close: Family Presence During CPR and Invasive Procedures with Cathie Guzzetta
Cathie Guzzetta, RN, PhD, HNC, discusses the experiences that led her to interest in the holistic approach to critical care. She shares her thoughts on caring for the mind, body and spirit of patients and families, including the controversies behind allowing some families to be present during CPR and invasive procedures. Guzzetta is director of Holistic Nursing Consultants in Washington, D.C., and one of seven prominent critical care leaders to present during the plenary sessions at the 35^th Critical Care Congress January 7 to 11 in San Francisco, California.

Congress Keynotes Up Close: The Future of Critical Care with Brian Silverstein
Brian Silverstein, vice president of Sg2 Health Care Intelligence, a consulting organization that provides medical professionals with information on changes in the technology, financing and delivery of healthcare services, shares his thoughts on advising in the healthcare industry. He addresses the challenges that institutions face in communication and culture as well as his thoughts on the anticipated increase in demand for critical care services, a topic he will provide more detail on during his keynote presentation at the 35^th Critical Care Congress

Congress Keynotes Up Close: Critical Care in Space with Dr. Dulchavsky
Dr. Scott Dulchavsky's studies of critical care in space may have major influences in intensive care on Earth. Learn more about him and his work before he takes the stage during a 35th Critical Care Congress plenary session.

Katrina Response: Caring for Evacuees
Two Society members discuss their experiences treating evacuees of Hurricane Katrina, the level of preparedness they saw within their hospitals and what lessons they will take from this disaster.

Interview with Society member Barbara McLean, MN, CCRN, CRNP, FCCM
Interview with Society member Barbara McLean, MN, CCRN, CRNP, FCCM, a nurse intensivist from Atlanta, Georgia, who spent 24 hours working in the Houston Astrodome and George R. Brown Convention Center on Monday, September 5.

Interview with Peter B. Angood, MD, FCCM
The SCCM president reflects on his year of leadership. 

SCCM Annual Congress - New Dates and New Location Announced
Due to the devastating situation in New Orleans brought on by Hurricane Katrina, the Society of Critical Care Medicine is forced to change the date and location of its 35th Critical Care Congress. Upon weighing the options available, the Society leadership and staff have secured the Moscone West Convention Center in San Francisco, California, for January 7 to 11, 2006.

Critical Care Pharmacists
Bringing Unique Viewpoints to the Multiprofessional Team

PICU Care of Children with Cancer
Mortality rates for most pediatric cancer patients in the PICU are approaching those of the general PICU population. Learn about the history of PICU care and find out how new attitudes have improved outcomes for this population. Crit Conn. 2005;4(4):19

The Society of Critical Care Medicine’s (SCCM) Advocacy Caucus
The Society of Critical Care Medicine’s (SCCM) Advocacy Caucus attracted the attention of important governmental leaders and helped SCCM propel its Right Care, Right Now message. Find ways to get involved in SCCM’s advocacy efforts and read about the success of others who attended the Advocacy Caucus.

Pharmaceutical Dilemmas in the ICU Cancer Patient
Cancer patients present with a number of complications that can affect how medicine is prescribed and administered to them. Learn about the challenges of medicating an ICU cancer patient and how to overcome these dilemmas. Crit Conn. 2005;4(4):6

Critical Care of Cancer Patients
Thoughts on how and when to treat the critical ill cancer patient have evolved throughout the last three decades, possibly leading to better care for those admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). Educate yourself on theories behind treating critically ill cancer patients and on how the multiprofessonal approach enhances the quality of care for this population. Crit Conn. 2005;4(4):1

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