SCCM RSS News

Overtreatment of Enterococcal Bacteriuria

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:22:31 -0600

Enterococci are an increasingly common cause of urinary tract infections (UTI) and asymptomatic bacteriuria (ABU) in hospitalized patients. Despite the publication of guidelines for appropriate antibiotic use, many patients are inappropriately prescribed antimicrobials for ABU. In this month’s issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, Lin et al conducted a retrospective medical record review from two academic teaching hospitals. The authors sought to describe clinical outcomes when Enterococcus was found in the urine, and to investigate the incidence of inappropriate treatment for enterococcal ABU. The analysis included 339 episodes of enterococcal bacteriuria, of which 183 cases (54%) were ABU and 156 (46%) were UTI. Patients with UTI were statistically significantly more likely to have higher bacterial counts, pyuria, hematuria, presence of an indwelling catheter, and neutropenia. Sixty of the 183 patients with ABU (32.8%) were inappropriately given antibiotics. Twenty-three of 156 patients with UTI (14.7%) were inappropriately undertreated (no antibiotics given). In this study, a significant number of patients were both under- and over-treated. Moreover, the class of antibiotics most commonly prescribed – quinolones – is known to have limited activity against enterococci. Both the authors and the invited commentators conclude that, due to the rarity of infectious complications associated with Enterococcus, ABU ought not to be treated. The results from this study support current efforts to curtail inappropriate antimicrobial use through stewardship programs, focused antimicrobial use campaigns and mindful practice...

SCCM Releases Position Statement on Drug Shortages

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:22:11 -0600

Drug shortages continue to pose a threat to healthcare quality and safety in intensive care patients. Shortages have been rising steadily throughout the last decade, reaching to more than 200 various drugs in 2011. In a national survey of more than 1,800 healthcare practitioners, more than 1,000 errors and adverse patient outcomes were described secondary to shortages over the past year. The Society of Critical Care Medicine has released a position statement addressing the shortage, outlining its effect on acute care and expressing urgency in coordinating solutions. “Considerations include evaluation of the drug supply and need for centralization, convening workgroups to establish conservation and allocation strategies, determining therapeutic alternatives, communicating with healthcare providers, and providing education. Existing order sets, protocols and technology, such as bar coding and computerized prescribing systems, may need to be updated,” according to the statement. Among other recommendations, the Society expressed its support of the Preserving Access to Life-Saving Medication Act, which would give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration improved capability to prevent shortages...

January PCCM Supplement Offers Guidelines for Severe TBI

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:21:51 -0600

The second edition of Guidelines for the Acute Medical Management of Severe Traumatic Brain Injury in Infants, Children, and Adolescents is now available as a supplement to the January issue of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine. In this update of the 2003 document, the guidelines committee maintained its commitment to produce evidence-based recommendations by applying rigorous inclusion and exclusion criteria. The guidelines have been endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics-Section on Neurological Surgery, American Association of Neurological Surgeons/Congress of Neurological Surgeons, Child Neurology Society, European Society of Pediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care, Neurocritical Care Society, Pediatric Neurocritical Care Research Group, Society of Critical Care Medicine, The Paediatric Intensive Care Society (UK), Society for Neuroscience in Anesthesiology and Critical Care, and the World Federation of Pediatric Intensive and Critical Care Societies. The entire guideline document is freely available via open access, thanks to funding provided by the Brain Trauma Foundation and partial funding from the Charles Maddock Foundation...

Industry Education at Congress

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:21:28 -0600

Each year, industry partners invest significant resources in research and development, and stand at the cutting-edge of clinical practice to keep you informed on the latest groundbreaking news in critical care. During the Society of Critical Care Medicine’s (SCCM) 41st Critical Care Congress, these partners will share their insights with attendees through non-CME education. Promotional Symposia, which are non-CME programs directly sponsored by industry partners, provide insight into the latest developments affecting intensive care units (ICUs). These symposia feature topics such as Covidien’s, Functional Hemodynamics: Strategies for Optimizing Fluid Management in the Critically Ill, which will be held on Sunday, February 5, 2012, before the Congress educational program begins. Promotional Symposia takes place in a relaxed setting off site, and are free to attend unless otherwise specified...

Congress Symposium Addresses Sodium Challenges

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:21:08 -0600

Gain a better understanding of sodium challenges and discuss strategies for management in the critical care patient during the breakfast symposium, Sodium Challenges in the Critical Care Patient, supported by an educational grant from Otsuka...

Clinical Focus to Address Sepsis-Related Respiratory Failure

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:20:44 -0600

There are 750,000 cases of severe sepsis every year in North America, of which nearly 50% develop acute lung injury or acute respiratory distress syndrome. Advance your understanding of sepsis-related respiratory failure and gain effective strategies for developing, implementing and executing protocols for managing the condition. Attend the Society of Critical Care Medicine’s (SCCM) latest conference in the Clinical Focus series, Sepsis-Related Respiratory Failure, to be held April 26 and 27, 2012, in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. A multiprofessional team of experts will discuss the new 2012 sepsis guidelines and bundles, and will provide the latest research and information about sepsis-related respiratory failure...

Liberal vs. Restrictive Transfusion for High-Risk Patients

Fri, 6 Jan 2012 10:07:50 -0600

The threshold at which postoperative red blood cell transfusion is warranted for patients with cardiac disease remains controversial. While the hazards associated with transfusions are well known to the modern-day intensivist, some have proposed that transfusions improve functional recovery for elderly surgical patients, and prevent cardiovascular events. Jeffrey Carson, MD, and the Functional Outcomes in Cardiovascular Patients Undergoing Surgical Hip Repair (FOCUS) investigators conducted a randomized trial to test the hypothesis that morbidity and mortality rates would be reduced when high-risk surgical patients (elective hip surgery) were transfused to a hemoglobin level of 10 g/dL (liberal strategy group) versus 8 g/dL (restrictive strategy group)...

SCCM Liaison Reflects on Work of the HQA

Fri, 6 Jan 2012 10:07:32 -0600

In December, the Hospital Quality Alliance (HQA) concluded its efforts to advance public reporting for hospital care. Ivor S. Douglas, MD, was a liaison to the HQA for the Society of Critical Care Medicine and shares the accomplishments of the group as well as future endeavors of the SCCM Advocacy Committee...

LearnICU.org Resource Update

Fri, 6 Jan 2012 10:07:11 -0600

LearnICU.org, the Society of Critical Care Medicine’s premiere website for critical care resources, is updated daily with content from the Society’s activities as well as from individual users. With 24 Knowledge Lines to sort information by category and access to Web-based courses, all critical care practitioners should bookmark this site and check back for regular updates. Among the user-contributed items added recently...

Receive Safety Info Faster With Electronic Drug Alerts

Fri, 6 Jan 2012 10:06:47 -0600

PDR Drug Alerts offer immediate, electronic delivery of any alerts and safety information from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The Society of Critical Care Medicine is proud to offer its members this complimentary service. PDR® Network continues to enhance its PDR Drug Information Service to offer greater value to clients by providing expanded services, such as weekly updates to reflect labeling changes and continuing medical education for reviewing labeling and drug alerts. With 10 million alerts delivered, PDR® Network is the leading provider of electronic Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) and drug alert distribution to an opt-in network of more than 400,000 prescribers...

Telemedicine in the ICU

Fri, 6 Jan 2012 10:06:29 -0600

Between 10% and 20% of all hospital beds are devoted to critical care, accounting for 30% of overall acute care hospital costs. Those costs are expected to increase as the U.S. population ages and illnesses become increasingly complex. At the same time, the nation faces a growing shortage of critical care physicians and nurses, and the demand for intensivists outstrips the supply. Telemedicine offers a solution to this problem by enabling a relatively small number of intensivists to oversee the care of a large number of intensive care unit (ICU) patients...

Carry the Entire Congress Program in the Palm of Your Hand

Fri, 6 Jan 2012 10:06:06 -0600

Get ready for the 41st Critical Care Congress by downloading the Congress App to access the complete schedule of events and other valuable information. Point your mobile browser to www.sccm.org/ccc41app to access. With apps designed specifically for the iPhone, iPad, Android and Blackberry, the Congress App offers a convenient way to access comprehensive Congress information...

Increased Mortality When Thromboprophylaxis Not Used

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:05:00 -0600

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is one of the costliest and most common preventable causes of death in the intensive care unit (ICU). In this month’s issue of Chest, Kwok Ho and colleagues utilized data from 134 ICUs in Australia and New Zealand to assess the association between omission of early thromboprophylaxis (>24 hours) after ICU admission and mortality. This retrospective cohort included 175,665 patients. Omission of thromboprophylaxis occurred in 27,890 patients (15.9%), and was associated with an unadjusted mortality of 7.6%. When the investigators adjusted for other covariates with generalized estimating equations and logistic regression, the odds of death were statistically significantly greater for patients who did not have thromboprophylaxis within 24 hours...

CCSC Launches New Website

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:04:38 -0600

The Critical Care Societies Collaborative (CCSC) is pleased to unveil its new website www.ccsconline.org, which will showcase more than a decade of the group’s achievements and its ongoing efforts to advance the field of critical care. The Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM), along with the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, the American College of Chest Physicians and the American Thoracic Society, is proud to be a member of this unique collaboration. With a combined membership of nearly 150,000 critical care professionals, the CCSC leverages its expertise through advocacy, education, research and community to ensure excellent care for all critically ill and injured patients and their families...

Is Your ICU Focused on Early Mobility?

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:04:22 -0600

The Paragon Critical Care Quality Implementation Program has boasted numerous successes in its mission to help intensive care unit teams improve quality through peer-to-peer coaching. Paragon has expanded its scope, now offering single-day site visits aimed at mobility coaching. The Paragon team will include physical/occupational therapists and a critical care pharmacist or physician who will assist with pain/agitation/delirium protocols...

Carry the Entire Congress Program in the Palm of Your Hand

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:03:58 -0600

Telemedicine in the ICU

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:03:41 -0600

Discover Clinical Breakthroughs During Congress

Thu, 1 Dec 2011 14:23:57 -0600

Bring the latest critical care knowledge back to your intensive care unit by attending the Society of Critical Care Medicines (SCCM) 41st Critical Care Congress. Learn about new developments and tools to help expand your knowledge and advance your practice of critical care.

Fundamental Ultrasound Course Will Advance Your Knowledge

Thu, 1 Dec 2011 14:22:44 -0600

Ultrasound imaging enhances the practitioner's ability to evaluate, diagnose and treat critical care patients. Additional benefits of focused bedside ultrasound include its portability, accuracy, real-time visualization, and efficacy in various procedures in the intensive care unit setting. Receive the latest ultrasound information and training during the Society of Critical Care Medicines (SCCM) innovative course, Fundamentals of Critical Care Ultrasound, to be held February 3 and 4, 2012, at the Hilton Americas-Houston, in Houston, Texas, USA.

Awards Recognize Best Practices in Reducing HAIs

Thu, 1 Dec 2011 14:22:22 -0600

Critical care professionals and healthcare institutions with a record of reducing and eliminating healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are encouraged to submit their best practices to a national awards program, sponsored by The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Critical Care Societies Collaborative.

SCCM Celebrates Master Critical Care Medicine Fellows

Thu, 1 Dec 2011 14:11:35 -0600

Congratulations to the Society of Critical Care Medicines (SCCM) first Master Critical Care Medicine (MCCM) Fellows, who will be awarded the distinguished designation during the 41st Critical Care Congress, in Houston, Texas, USA.

New-Onset AF with Sepsis Associated with Worse Outcomes?

Thu, 1 Dec 2011 14:10:17 -0600

New-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) is a recognized complication of severe sepsis and may be associated with adverse outcomes such as stroke or death. In this months issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, Walkey et al investigated the association of severe sepsis and new-onset AF with the adverse outcomes of in-hospital mortality and in-hospital ischemic stroke.

Prevention of VAP with Oral Antiseptics

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 16:33:48 -0600

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) poses a significant patient safety threat for intensive care unit (ICU) patients and has attributable mortality rates that may exceed 50%. In the November issue of Lancet Infectious Diseases, Sonia Labeau, MD, conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine whether oral care with chlorhexidine or povidone-iodine (experimental; antiseptic group) reduced the occurrence of VAP compared with absence of oral care, or oral care with other products (control)...

Recommendations for Pediatric Mass Critical Care

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 16:33:29 -0600

The Pediatric Emergency Mass Critical Care Task Force has proposed pediatric-specific recommendations to extend critical care resources in disaster situations in a supplement to the November 2011 issue of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, now available in print and online (open access). The task force, a multiprofessional body representing various national and international critical and emergency care organizations, based these recommendations on an exhaustive search of the literature, bibliographies, government planning documents, and reports of local, state, and federal working groups...

First FCCS, PFCCS Courses in Haiti Part of a Long-Term Mission

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 16:33:10 -0600

Fundamental Critical Care Support (FCCS) and Pediatric Fundamental Critical Care Support (PFCCS) courses are emerging as effective education tools in Haiti. Organized with the help of M.J. Reed, MD, FCCM, the countryâs first FCCS course was held this month, training 12 intern-level residents on how to provide basic critical care services in the absence of an intensivist. A PFCCS course, to be led by Louisdon Pierre, MD, is planned for January 2012. Although these are the first courses to be held in Haiti, the program was instrumental during the disaster response following the 2010 earthquake. The Society of Critical Care Medicine held two courses in the Dominican Republic to help medical personnel manage the overflow of critically ill and injured patients from across the Haitian border...

Acquire the Fundamentals with SCCM's Ultrasound Course

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 16:32:45 -0600

Ultrasonography has become an invaluable tool in the management of critically ill and injured patients due to its portability, ease of use and accurate evaluation. Ultrasound also is relatively inexpensive and presents little threat to patients and practitioners. With demand for ultrasound on the rise and developments in technology, it is imperative that critical care practitioners stay up to date in this advanced modality. The Society of Critical Care Medicineâs (SCCM) innovative course, Fundamentals of Critical Care Ultrasound, to be held February 3 and 4, 2012, at the Hilton Americas-Houston in Houston, Texas, USA, will provide participants with the latest ultrasound information available...

Discounted Registration for Critical Care Congress Ends Soon

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 16:32:25 -0600

Take advantage of discounted registration rates for the Society of Critical Care Medicineâs (SCCM) 41st Critical Care Congress, to be held February 4 to 8, 2012, in Houston, Texas, USA. The deadline to register at early-bird rates is November 30, 2011. Bring the latest critical care knowledge back to your intensive care unit. Donât miss the valuable educational curriculum at this event, which will include cutting-edge educational sessions, hands-on workshops, thought-provoking symposia, and popular plenary sessions promoting innovative developments in critical care. Plenary sessions are given by distinguished, world-renowned leaders in the critical care field...

The Effects of Restricting Chloride-Rich Fluids in the Critically ill

Mon, 7 Nov 2011 08:42:59 -0600

Supraphysiological concentrations of sodium and chloride are present in routinely used intravenous fluids. It is widely understood that the use of 0.9% saline and other chloride-rich solutions in critically ill patients causes metabolic acidosis, decreases the strong ion difference and may lead to worse outcomes. In this monthâs issue of Critical Care Medicine, Norâazim Mohd Yunos, MD, and colleagues from Melbourne, Australia, conducted a prospective, open-label, before-and-after study to investigate the biochemical effects when chloride-rich solutions such as 0.9% saline, Gelofusine or Albumex 4 are restricted. Authors concluded that restriction of chloride-rich solutions was associated with a significant decease in the incidence of metabolic acidosis, hypernatremia and severe hyperchloremia; however, the incidence of metabolic alkalosis was increased...

Drug Shortages Addressed on National Level

Mon, 7 Nov 2011 08:42:40 -0600

The Society of Critical Care Medicineâs (SCCM) Advocacy Committee has been engaged in several activities surrounding drug shortages. This week, U.S. President Barack Obama signed an executive order calling for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Department of Justice to broaden reporting of potential drug shortages, expedite regulatory reviews that can help prevent shortages, and examine whether potential shortages have led to price gouging. According to The Wall Street Journal, the FDA reported a record 178 drug shortages in 2010 and has said the number of shortages is greater so far this year. Most of the shortages have involved injectable agents commonly used in the intensive care unit, such as anti-infectives, cardiovascular agents and drugs influencing the central nervous system. Notable agents with shortages in the past year have included propofol, thiopental, succinylcholine, vecuronium, nicardipine, 23.4% sodium chloride, fosphenytoin, epinephrine, norepinephrine, ephedrine, neostigmine, amikacin, intravenous trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and foscarnet...

Programs Help Teams Achieve, Be Recognized for Quality

Mon, 7 Nov 2011 08:42:19 -0600

The Society of Critical Care Medicine would like to highlight two key opportunities for its members related to quality improvement. Innovation Advisors Program The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Servicesâ Innovation Advisors Program (IAP) is offering a free training program to help individuals refine, apply and sustain managerial and technical skills necessary to drive delivery system reform. An Innovation Advisorâs home organization or group will be eligible to receive a stipend of up to $20,000, which will be used to support the program activities, including travel of the selected individual to serve as an Innovation Advisor. The program will inspire dedicated, skilled individuals in the healthcare system to deepen several key skill sets, including: healthcare economics, finance, population health, systems analysis, and operations research...

Registration Open for the 2012 MCCKAP Exam

Mon, 7 Nov 2011 08:42:00 -0600

Registration is now open for the Society of Critical Care Medicineâs (SCCM) 2012 Multidisciplinary Critical Care Knowledge Assessment Program (MCCKAP), to be held March 1 to 11, 2012. The MCCKAP exam, which is offered exclusively online, is used by critical care program directors to assess the strengths and weaknesses of their fellowship program participants. Available in both adult and pediatric formats, MCCKAP consists of approximately 200 multiple-choice questions pertaining to critical care knowledge and patient management based on national standards. Immediate preliminary scores are available to the examinee and the corresponding program director upon completion of the test...

Famous Houstonians

Mon, 7 Nov 2011 08:41:38 -0600

As the fourth-largest city in the United States, Houston, Texas, is home to a respected and energetic arts community, celebrated restaurants, world-renowned theater groups, and the brains behind U.S. space exploration. Many famous people also currently or at one point have called Houston home: Former U.S. President George Bush Dr. Denton A. Cooley, surgeon Walter Cronkite, news broadcaster Hilary Duff, entertainer George Foreman, boxer Jennifer Garner, actress Howard Hughes, billionaire Beyonce Knowles, entertainer Carl Lewis, athlete Lyle Lovett, musician Joel Osteen, pastor Randy Quaid, actor Kenny Rogers, singer Patrick Swayze, actor Renee Zellweger, actress ZZ Top, musicians Stay abreast of new developments, obtain needed tools to help advance your knowledge and further your practice of critical care at the Society of Critical Care Medicineâs 41st Critical Care Congress, to be held February 4 to 8, 2012, at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston. The 41st Critical Care Congress Advance Program is now available. View the full schedule of events as well as other highlights.

Featured Forum: Average Intensivist RVUs

Mon, 7 Nov 2011 08:41:18 -0600

Your colleagues are posing questions and engaging in informative conversations in the Critical Care Forums. All SCCM members and customers have access to the Critical Care Forums through MySCCM.org. Average Intensivist RVUs Our hospital is starting up an intensivist program and I'm trying determine typical intensivists annual productivity. Our plan is 14, 12-hour days per month. Can anyone tell me how many RVUs an intensivist can expect to generate in a year within this schedule?

Message from the SCCM President: Xigris Update

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 10:11:20 -0600

Eli Lilly and Company this morning announced withdrawal of its Xigris drotrecogin alfa (activated) product in all markets following results of the PROWESS-SHOCK study, which showed the study did not meet the primary endpoint of a statistically significant reduction in 28-day, all-cause mortality in patients with septic shock. The company is working with regulatory agencies on this withdrawal, and is in the process of notifying healthcare professionals and clinical trial investigators...

Emergency Docs Soon Will Be Able to Certify in Critical Care

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 08:33:34 -0600

At its September meeting, the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) approved a plan that will pave the way for emergency medicine professionals to become certified in critical care medicine. The proposal establishes a co-sponsorship between the American Board of Emergency Medicine (ABEM) and the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM), allowing emergency medicine physicians to become board certified in critical care medicine by taking the internal medicine board examinations. In its 2007 report Hospital-Based Emergency Care: At the Breaking Point, the Institute of MedicineÃ¢ÂÂs Board on Health Services recommended that the ABMS Ã¢ÂÂand it constituent boards extend eligibly for certification in critical care medicine to all acute care Ã¢ÂÂ¦ physicians who complete an accredited critical care fellowship,Ã¢ÂÂ in an attempt to increase the pool of well-trained intensivists in both adult and pediatric practice. The report recognized that intensivists practicing in the emergency department have put a strain on intensive care units...

Discover New Educational Opportunities at LearnICU.org

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 08:32:32 -0600

LearnICU.org, the premiere website for critical care educational resources, has officially launched out of its beta version to offer its full functionality and features.Among the features now available:
- Access to online self-assessment resources
- New Fundamental Critical Care Support online course
- Access to the full SCCM On Demand series
- Featured products associated with each of the 24 knowledge areas
Mark Hall, MD, is featured in the latest iCritical Care Podcast, discussing tips for using and navigating the new LearnICU.org. He touches on the impetus for the clearinghouse site, its place in Society of Critical Care Medicine's overall education strategy and its best features...

October Webcasts Explore Early Rehab and Team Roles

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 08:32:06 -0600

During November, the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) is offering webcasts that address two important topics. ICU Workforce: Financial and Credentialing Considerations The formulation of intensive care unit (ICU) workforce teams requires a focus on maximizing effectiveness and minimizing costs. Due to the increased demand for critical care-qualified providers and the relative shortage of physician intensivists, it is vital to integrate nurse practitioners (NPs), physician assistants (PAs) and hospitalists into intensivist-led teams in the ICU. During the November 15 webcast, ICU Workforce: Financial and Credentialing Considerations, expert faculty will focus on how to augment the ICU team and address administrative considerations including credentialing and financial issues...

Remarkable Houston Firsts

Fri, 21 Oct 2011 08:30:12 -0600

Houston has always been a city that looks ahead. It may be common knowledge that "Houston" was the first word spoken on the moon, but Houston is also home to numerous other "firsts":
- Houston's Memorial Hermann Hospital is the birthplace of Life Flight (1976).
- The first successful human heart transplant was performed in Houston by Dr. Denton Cooley (1968).
- Houston (Rice University) is the birthplace of nanotechnology.
- Houston, not Louisiana, is the birthplace of zydeco.
- America's first public television station -- KPHT-TV -- launched in Houston.
Extend your reach and share your insights and experiences with your colleagues in the pursuit of innovative ways to improve patient care worldwide at the Society of Critical Care MedicineÃ¢ÂÂs (SCCM) 41st Critical Care Congress, to be held February 4 to 8, 2012, at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston. The SocietyÃ¢ÂÂs annual Congress is the largest multiprofessional critical care event of the year, drawing physicians, nurses, pharmacists, respiratory therapists, students, and other providers from around the world. You wonÃ¢ÂÂt want to miss a single educational session during this five-day event.

The 41st Critical Care Congress Advance Program is now available. View the full schedule of events as well as other highlights...

Do Ventilation Protocols Detract from Trainee Knowledge?

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 09:30:19 -0600

Unintended consequences, such as limited ability to think beyond algorithms, may exist when protocols are used extensively. In the September issue of the Journal of American Medical Association, Prasad et al studied the relationship between critical care training under high- and low-intensity institutional mechanical ventilation protocols and subsequent knowledge about ventilator management...

Past Congress Plenary Speaker Wins Nobel Prize

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 09:30:16 -0600

Bruce Beutler, MD, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine this week in recognition of his discoveries concerning the activation of innate immunity. Beutler served a plenary session speaker during the 34th Critical Care Congress, discussing his research on Toll-like receptors as the first cause of immune responses and sepsis; his work continues to influence the critical care community...

Webcasts and Congress Review Offer CE Credit

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 09:30:14 -0600

There is still time to earn free continuing education credit using resources from the 40th Critical Care Congress. The June/July issue of Critical Connections contains the 40th Critical Care Congress Review, and several webcasts also are available...

Electronic Drug Alerts Provide Faster Info on Safety

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 09:30:11 -0600

October Webcasts Explore Early Rehab and Team Roles

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 09:30:09 -0600

During October, the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) is offering webcasts that address two challenging topics. Early Rehabilitation in the Critically Ill: Getting Started in Your ICU. Patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) often are exposed to prolonged immobility due not only to the nature of their critical illness, but also to deep sedation, lack of rehabilitation staffing and perceived barriers by their ICU clinicians. Current literature has demonstrated that early mobility and rehabilitation can play a critical role in the prevention of weakness related to critical illness...

Discover Clinical Breakthroughs During Congress

Mon, 10 Oct 2011 09:30:05 -0600

Bring the latest critical care knowledge back to your intensive care unit (ICU) by attending the Society of Critical Care MedicineÃ¢ÂÂs (SCCM) 41st Critical Care Congress, to be held February 4 to 8, 2012, at the George R. Brown Convention Center, in Houston, Texas, USA. Learn about new developments and tools to help expand your knowledge and advance your practice of critical care...

Are ICU Patients Still Receiving Long-Term Medications?

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 08:31:06 -0600

Intensive care unit (ICU) admissions may lead to unintentional discontinuation of long-standing, evidence-based drug therapies. In the August issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, Bell et al conducted a population-based cohort study in Ontario, Canada, to investigate whether ICU or hospital admissions were associated with a greater risk for inadvertent discontinuation of long-term medications. Among all patients with an ICU stay, the incidence of medication discontinuation ranged from 22.8% for antiplatelet/anticoagulant medications to 5.4% for respiratory inhalers. Patients with an ICU stay were 1.48 times more likely to have discontinuation of a statin (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.39-1.57) and 2.31 times more likely to have discontinuation of antiplatelet/anticoagulant medications (95% CI, 2.07-2.57). Compared to controls, the adjusted odds ratio for medication discontinuation after an ICU stay varied from 1.11 for statins (95% CI, 1.05-1.18) to 1.29 for levothyroxine (95% CI, 1.17-1.41). In a preplanned secondary outcome analysis, the risk of death, emergent hospitalization or emergency department visit was significantly increased when statins or antiplatelet/anticoagulant medications were discontinued following hospitalization. The authors concluded that treatment in an ICU places patients at greater risk for unintentional discontinuation of long-term medications...

Regional SCCM Chapters to Hold Conferences

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 08:30:43 -0600

The Society of Critical Care MedicineÃ¢ÂÂs (SCCM) many regional chapters provide educational sessions and networking opportunities. The Baltimore Chapter will host its fall meeting on September 21, 2011, at the R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center Auditorium, located in the University of Maryland Medical Center. This meeting will provide updates on hot topics in critical care, including, telemedicine, anticoagulation and propensity score matching. Dinner will be served at 6:00 p.m. and admission is free. The Carolinas/Virginias Chapter of SCCM will hold its biannual satellite conference, Multidisciplinary Critical Care Updates, on November 5, 2011, in Richmond, Virginia, USA. Speakers will highlight numerous topics including neurocritical care, sedation and analgesia, resuscitation, acute respiratory distress syndrome, capnography, early mobilization, bleeding and ultrasound...

September Is Sepsis Awareness Month

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 08:30:23 -0600

September is Sepsis Awareness Month and the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) encourages members of the critical care community to continue to educate themselves, colleagues, patients and families about this highly prevalent medical emergency. The Surviving Sepsis Campaign (SSC), a joint effort of SCCM and the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine, offers various educational materials along with improvement tips for clinicians on the front lines of the battle to increase early recognition and treatment...

Clarify the Evolving Definition of the ICU Team

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 08:30:02 -0600

Register by Monday, September 19, 2011, for the Society of Critical Care MedicineÃ¢ÂÂs (SCCM) upcoming webcast, Evolving Definitions of the ICU Team. Current healthcare and regulatory changes have impacted the intensive care unit (ICU) workforce, specifically the professionals who make up the critical care team. This webcast will present strategies on how to integrate nurse practitioners, physician assistants and hospitalists successfully into ICU teams to meet the needs of acute and critically ill patients...

October Webcasts Explore Clinical and Workforce Issues

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 08:29:42 -0600

During October, the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) is offering webcasts that address two challenging topics: Early Rehabilitation in the Critically Ill: Getting Started in Your ICU A growing body of literature demonstrates that survivors of severe critical illness commonly have significant and prolonged neuromuscular complications that impair their physical function and quality of life after hospital discharge. A new approach for managing critically ill patients includes reducing deep sedation and increasing rehabilitation therapy and mobilization soon after admission to the intensive care unit (ICU)...

Congress Host City Named Top Value Destination

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 08:29:19 -0600

Are you interested in exploring the latest groundbreaking research and developments in critical care at the Society of Critical Care MedicineÃ¢ÂÂs (SCCM) 41st Critical Care Congress but trying to keep costs down? This yearÃ¢ÂÂs host city of Houston, Texas, USA, offers more bang for your buck. Recently named a top-value destination by three national media outlets, Houston was also announced as one of the hottest budget travel destinations in the world for 2011 by Budget Travel magazine...

Antibiotics in Septic Shock: Is Time Really of the Essence?

Thu, 1 Sep 2011 16:55:40 -0600

The Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines recommend initiating broad-spectrum antibiotics within one hour to treat severe sepsis or septic shock. In SeptemberÃ¢ÂÂs Critical Care Medicine, Puskarich et al studied the association between time to initial antibiotic administration and in-hospital mortality rates for septic patients treated with the quantitative resuscitation protocol. The study design was a preplanned analysis of a recently completed multicenter prospective, parallel-group, non-blinded randomized clinical trial. The authors hypothesized that timing of antibiotic administration was associated with the primary outcome of in-hospital mortality rates. The recommendation for administering antibiotics within one hour for severe sepsis and septic shock is based on expert opinion and a previous large retrospective study that demonstrated higher survival rates when antibiotics were given within one hour. In this most recent study, investigators were unable to show increased mortality rates for each hour's delay to administration of antibiotics after emergency department triage; although, when antibiotics were delayed for patients in shock, mortality rates increased. These findings, which showed no difference in mortality rates when antibiotics were delayed after triage (but not shock), may be partly attributed to a relatively small sample size, the fact that each participating institution had robust resuscitation protocols, and a lower overall mortality rate for septic shock than described in previous studies. The findings in this study may also be credited to the effect of an early goal-directed resuscitation protocol, in which antibiotics are one of several crucial elements of current evidence-based support for patients with severe sepsis and septic shock...

Nurses: Apply for the Norma J. Shoemaker Grant

Thu, 1 Sep 2011 16:55:22 -0600

Calling all Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) nurse members! The Norma J. Shoemaker Grant offers $15,000 in funding for research related to critical care nursing. Applicants must have attended at least one Critical Care Congress in the last three years and have been a member of SCCM for at least two years. Submit an application, curriculum vitae, research plan and other required materials by September 9, 2011, to take advantage of this opportunity...

SCCM Discusses Drug Shortages with U.S. House Committee

Thu, 1 Sep 2011 16:55:04 -0600

Drug shortages took center stage at a meeting yesterday of the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health. The Society of Critical Care MedicineÃ¢ÂÂs (SCCM) immediate past president Judith Jacobi, PharmD, BCPS, FCCM, participated in the roundtable panel, representing the critical care community in a broader discussion about how to best address the crisis. Drug shortages are affecting healthcare professionals in all settings and are being attributed to limited raw materials and reduced factory capacities due to industry consolidation. Some drug manufacturers also have dropped older medicines from their inventories. Jacobi attended at the invitation of John OÃ¢ÂÂShea, MD, a senior health policy advisor. She recently discussed the drug shortage in the intensive care unit during an iCritical Care Podcast, speculating on the potential unintended consequences of this problem and the future of drug availability...

What Are the Latest LearnICU.org Updates?

Thu, 1 Sep 2011 16:54:46 -0600

LearnICU.org serves as a central database for a variety of critical care resources. The site highlights products and tools from the Society of Critical Care Medicine, but users also are encouraged to contribute their own materials in the spirit of information sharing and gathering. Most recently, a link to the UK National Patient Safety Project was added to the Pulmonary Knowledge Line within LearnICU.org. The site offers training and explanatory videos, along with electronic and printable resources, in an attempt to improve the level of knowledge among healthcare professionals who must perform tracheostomies, particularly those in critical care. Learn more at the National Tracheostomy Safety Project or visit LearnICU.org to find additional resources on pulmonary issues, including journal articles, video presentations, guidelines and podcasts...

Limit the Effects of Post-Intensive Care Syndrome

Thu, 1 Sep 2011 16:54:13 -0600

As the aging population increases demand for critical care services and short-term mortality rates decrease for some types of critical illnesses, the long-term consequences of an intensive care unit (ICU) stay are moving into the spotlight. Many studies demonstrate the physical, cognitive and mental health impairments experienced by intensive care survivors and their families. ICU-based interventions that may reduce these complications have been identified. However, less is known about post-ICU interventions for improving survivor and family outcomes. The Society of Critical Care MedicineÃ¢ÂÂs (SCCM) September 15 webcast, Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS): Psychological Sequela of Critical Illness, will present strategies to reduce the prevalence and impact of PICS on critically ill and injured patients. Upon completion of this webcast, participants should be able to: Define PICS, Identify three psychological sequelae in patients, Identify the psychological sequelae in patients' families, List three interventions healthcare providers can perform to limit the effects of PICS

Maximize Your ICU Teams Capacity

Thu, 1 Sep 2011 16:53:26 -0600

The Society of Critical Care Medicine's (SCCM) September 20 webcast, Evolving Definitions of the ICU Team, will explore options on how to augment the intensive care unit (ICU) team by focusing on the use of nurse practitioners, physician assistants and hospitalists to meet the needs of acutely and critically ill patients. Experts will present their strategies for successfully integrating these practitioners into the ICU team. At the conclusion of this webcast, participants should be able to: Discuss the evolving definition of the ICU team, Identify strategies to enhance staffing models to meet patient care needs.