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Remembering Norma Shoemaker: A Nurse Pioneer and SCCM’s First Executive Director

Norma J. Shoemaker, RN, MN, FCCM, one of the Society of Critical Care Medicine’s (SCCM) earliest nurse members and its first executive director, died March 8, 2023. She was 90.


Editorial Leadership Change for Critical Care Explorations

Timothy G. Buchman, PhD, MD, MCCM, has announced that he will step down as editor-in-chief of Critical Care Explorations.


SCCM Welcomes New Editor-In-Chief of Critical Care Medicine

The Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) has named Jonathan E. Sevransky, MD, MHS, FCCM, as the new editor-in-chief of Critical Care Medicine, starting in October 2024.


Donor-Funded Training Supports Fundamentals Courses in Rwanda

Learn how Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) members turned a passion for improving care into action by holding donor-funded training in resource-limited areas.


SCCM Donations Fund Tele-Critical Care Project

On August 14, a 7.2-magnitude earthquake rattled the nation of Haiti, killing more than 2200 people and leaving thousands of Haitians injured and in need of assistance.1 Beyond the casualties, 66 health facilities were either damaged or destroyed, putting an impossible burden on an already fragile healthcare system.1


2022 Critical Care Congress Thought Leaders: Critical Care Nurses and COVID-19

John J. Gallagher, DNP, RN, CCNS, CCRN-K, TCRN, RRT, FCCM, will bring his experiences and teaching enjoyment to SCCM’s 2022 Critical Care Congress, where he will lead the thought leader session “Critical Care Nurses and COVID-19.”


SCCM 2022 Critical Care Congress Is Now Virtual

SCCM has announced the cancelation of the 2022 Critical Care Congress in-person event and the postponement of the virtual event to April 18 through 21, 2022.


2022 Critical Care Congress Plenary: Health System Readiness 2.0

Brendan G. Carr, MD, MA, MS, will address some of the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic and how health systems can prepare during the Peter Safar Memorial Lecture at the 2022 SCCM Congress.


2022 Critical Care Congress Plenary: What Has COVID-19 Taught Us About ECMO?

Peta M.A. Alexander, MBBS, FRACP, FCICM, will present the Max Harry Weil Memorial Lecture titled, “What Has COVID-19 Taught Us About ECMO?” during SCCM’s 2022 Critical Care Congress.


An Update on SCCM Relief Efforts in Ukraine

SCCM President Sandra L. Kane-Gill, PharmD, MSc, FCCP, FCCM, provides an update on the SCCM emergency response efforts in Ukraine.


Best Practices for Mentorship and Burnout Mitigation

More than 75% of healthcare professionals have self-reported burnout as well as increased frustration and feeling overwhelmed at work. Andrea Sikora, PharmD, BCCCP, MSCR, FCCM, discusses what can be done and highlights three recent articles offering recommendations on how to prevent burnout and establish effective mentorship opportunities.


SCCM ICU Heroes: The Love Army

The ICU Heroes Award recognizes that patients and families are an integral part of intensive care unit (ICU) care. The award is given to an ICU patient and family and to the multiprofessional team that delivered the care.


Concise Critical Appraisal: Temperature Management After Cardiac Arrest

Recently published guidelines have replaced the recommendations on temperature management after cardiac arrest included in the 2021 post-resuscitation care guidelines co-issued by the European Resuscitation Council (ERC) and the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM). This Concise Critical Appraisal examines the previously reported recommendations and evidence, reviews the ERC-ESICM updated recommendations, and highlights the areas that still lack investigation and clarity.


Concise Critical Appraisal: Continued Rise of Venous Thromboembolism Across US Children’s Hospitals

Has the rate of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in children changed over time? A 2009 study reported a 70% increase in VTE in acutely and chronically ill children. The reasons for this increase were not clear but were postulated to be related to improved survival of critically ill children, increased use of central venous catheters, and increased prevalence of adolescent obesity. This Concise Critical Appraisal dives into a 2022 article that sought to determine whether the rate of VTE continued to increase between 2008 and 2019.


Concise Critical Appraisal: COVID-19 Pandemic Impacts Burnout Critical Care Professions Differently

The COVID-19 pandemic created a new challenging environment in which healthcare workers must survive. Before the pandemic, healthcare workers experienced burnout due to resource allocation and shortages, mental anguish, and long work hours. The pandemic further exacerbated this situation, creating a new crisis within our already frayed healthcare system. This Concise Critical Appraisal dives into an article published in Critical Care Medicine that reviewed the causes of burnout and the correlation between the COVID-19 pandemic and workplace burnout.


SCCM Humanitarian Efforts in Ukraine

The ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine has quickly become historic for its magnitude. The conflict has also led to crisis within the Ukrainian healthcare system. Here is how the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) has been helping.


Concise Critical Appraisal: Professional Development Despite ICU Burnout and Staff Shortages

This Concise Critical Appraisal describes two articles that illuminate the associations among the COVID-19 pandemic, clinician well-being, and burnout—an article on the perceptions of critical care shortages, resource use, and clinician well-being and an article comparing the effects of the pandemic among critical care professions.


Discovery and SARI-PREP Have Roles in Preparing for Next Pathogen Outbreak

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed major gaps in the U.S. healthcare system, prompting the National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center (NETEC) to form the National Special Pathogen System of Care (NSPS) to prepare the country for the next large-scale outbreak. Discovery, the Critical Care Research Network, and its Severe Acute Respiratory Infection – Preparedness (SARI-PREP) program are helping lead the way in this new vision. SARI-PREP is a key player in the effort to establish a coordinated and standardized healthcare network that provides high-quality care to parents with a special pathogen, while also protecting healthcare workers.


Concise Critical Appraisal: Impact of a Machine Learning Early Warning Score on Hospital Mortality

Common causes of death in hospitals, such as sepsis and respiratory failure, are treatable and benefit from early intervention. Machine learning algorithms or early warning scores can be used for early identification and recognition to potentially help accelerate interventions and limit morbidity and mortality. This Concise Critical Appraisal explores an article published in Critical Care Medicine that looked at the impact of one of these early warning scores—electronic cardiac arrest risk triage (eCART)—on mortality for elevated-risk adult inpatients.


SCCM Member Creates Telehealth Nonprofit to Help Ukrainians

When Russia invaded Ukraine, Jarone Lee, MD, MPH, FCCM, like so many others, wanted to help the Ukrainian people. But beyond donating money or supplies, Dr. Lee realized his unique combination of skills could help in a different way.