Abstracts

New This Year

• First authors that are enrolled in an educational program will be required to submit their program director’s contact information:
  • Program Director Name
  • Program Type
  • Program Institution
  • Program Director Email Address
• An Ethics tab that includes a mandatory ethics statement for abstract and case report submitters to complete on behalf of all authors associated with the report.
• Inside the abstract and case report submissions landing page is an ethical statement you must confirm before you start the submission process.

Accepted Abstracts and Formatting for Presentation
Emails on the status of your abstract have been emailed to the contact author associated with the abstract as of October 19th.  All accepted abstracts will receive instructions in November on how to record your 4- minute presentation sync’d with your slides. Withdraws for abstracts will be accepted by October 23rd—please submit your request online: withdrawal form  
 
Eligibility Requirements 

• Abstracts, case reports, and/or data previously presented or published nationally or internationally are not allowed.
• Abstracts and case reports presented at an SCCM chapter meeting are allowed.
• Abstracts and case reports may contain new research on a topic presented previously.
• Submission of an abstract or case report constitutes a commitment by the author(s) to present the abstract or case report as accepted.
• Stimulating and unique abstracts or case reports will be considered for the 2021 Congress program.

Review Process

• Abstracts and case reports will be scored on the following criteria:
  • Scientific merit
  • Adequate sample size and proper statistical analysis
  • Adherence to instructions
  • Originality of work

Alterations and Withdrawals
Accepted abstracts and case reports will be published as submitted in the January supplement to the journal Critical Care Medicine. SCCM does not edit or proof abstracts or case reports. By saving each step you complete in the submission process, you can log off and return to continue your work at another time. Until you formally submit the abstract or case report (by selecting the “Yes, I’m ready to submit” link), you can edit and revise it online as much as you wish. Once it is formally submitted, corrections cannot be made. If changes to a submission are needed, you must withdraw it and create a new, revised submission. No edits or corrections can be made once the supplemental journal is published.
 
Submissions may be withdrawn until 12:00 noon Central Time on October 23, 2020. 
 
Acceptance
The contact author will be notified in October 2020 via email of the submission’s acceptance or rejection. Please ensure that the contact author’s email address is included with the submission. All notifications and correspondence will be directed to the contact author indicated in the submission. It is the responsibility of the submitting author to confirm that all author email addresses are current at the time of submission to ensure that any notifications sent from SCCM are received. All decisions made by the Congress Program Committee are final.
 
Complimentary Congress Registration
Complimentary registration will be offered only to the first author who is an SCCM member and a sponsored fellow or healthcare professional (dietician, nurse, pharmacist, or respiratory therapist). Post-training attending physicians and authors submitting case reports are ineligible. If you are not currently a member and would like to become eligible for complimentary registration, join SCCM online, using your Customer ID and password, no later than 11:50 p.m. Central Time on Sunday, August 9, 2020. Decisions will be communicated by October 2020.
 
Expenses

• Nonmembers are required to pay a $25 nonrefundable submission fee per abstract or case report submission.
• Expenses associated with abstract or case report preparation, submission, and presentation are the responsibility of the presenter(s)/author(s).
• Authors of accepted abstracts and case reports are expected to register for Congress and pay the registration fee, unless they apply for, and qualify for, complimentary registration.

 Important Dates

• Extended to 11:59 p.m. Central Time on August 9, 2020: General submission deadline.
• October 2020: Notification of submission acceptance sent electronically to contact author.
• October 23, 2020, 12:00 noon Central Time: Deadline to withdraw submissions. Notification to withdraw submissions must be received via Forms

Nomination-Based Awards
On acceptance, your abstract or case report may be considered for an award. Abstract- and case-report-based awards are given to the first author of the abstract or case report. All authors of an abstract or case report will be notified if their submission receives an award. For more information, contact SCCM Customer Service.
 
Star Research Award Winners
In-Training, Young Investigator, and Choosing Wisely/High Value Care Awards require an application. Applications are available online, within the abstract submission system. Recipients of the In-Training and Young Investor awards receive $2,500 and a personalized commemorative plaque. The recipient of the Choosing Wisely/High Value Care Award receives $250 and a certificate of achievement.
 
The 64 top-scoring abstracts are selected for Star Research Presentation during the regular Congress program without competition from other continuing education/continuing medical education sessions. From these 64 abstracts, the following awards are given:
 
Young Investigator Award Criteria

• Applicant must have completed a training program at least 18 months (but not more than three years) prior to January 2020.
• Applicant must upload a verification letter on official letterhead signed by a program director by August 3, 2020. Please include the abstract title.

In-Training Award Criteria

• Applicant must be in a critical care training program or have ended training not more than one year prior to Congress.
• Applicant must upload a verification letter on official letterhead signed by a program director by August 3, 2020. Please include the abstract title.

From the remaining 62 abstracts, the following awards are given:

• Gold Medal Award: This is awarded to the applicant with the highest abstract score of the remaining submissions. Only one Gold Medal Award is given per year. The awardee receives $2,000 and a commemorative plaque and should consider submitting the manuscript for publication in Critical Care Medicine.
• Silver Medal Award: This is awarded to the applicant with the second-highest abstract score of the remaining submissions. Only one Silver Medal Award is given per year. The awardee receives $1,000 and a commemorative plaque and should consider submitting the manuscript for publication in Critical Care Medicine.
• Bronze Medal Award: This is awarded to the applicant with the third-highest abstract score of the remaining submissions. Only one Bronze Medal Award is given per year. The awardee receives $500 and a commemorative plaque and should consider submitting the manuscript for publication in Critical Care Medicine.
• The recipients of the Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medal Awards are not eligible to receive the Young Investigator or In-Training awards.
• The remaining submitters in this category receive a Star Research Award certificate of achievement and $100.

 
Research Snapshot Awards
Authors of abstracts that were not accepted for Star Research Presentations make short presentations facilitated by a moderator in the Research Snapshot Theaters in the Exhibit Hall. Additionally, the abstracts with the top 30 scores in this category receive the following awards:

• Gold Snapshot Award: This is awarded to 10 people per year with the highest-ranking abstracts in this category. The awardee receives a certificate.
• Silver Snapshot Award: This is awarded to 10 people per year with the highest-ranking abstracts in this category. The awardee receives a certificate.
• Bronze Snapshot Award: This is awarded to 10 people per year with the highest-ranking abstracts in this category. The awardee receives a certificate.

 
Case Report Snapshot Awards
Authors of accepted case reports make short presentations facilitated by a moderator in the Research Snapshot Theaters located in the Exhibit Hall. Additionally, the top three case reports receive the following awards:

• One First-Place Award certificate
• One Second-Place Award certificate
• One Third-Place Award certificate

Section Travel Grants
SCCM specialty sections offer a $500 travel grant for a section member. The applicant must:

• Be an SCCM member
• Be a member of the section to which he/she is applying
• Attend Congress 2021
• Be the first and presenting author of an accepted abstract
• Not be a section leader

Additionally, the abstract should:

• Support emerging science in the applicant’s specialty
• Demonstrate excellence based on the submission’s score
• Demonstrate the importance of the work to critically ill patients and families
• Be relevant to the section specialty

Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology Section Awards
 
Patient Safety and Young Investigator Award
Award Criteria:

• Applicant must be a pharmacist who is in residency or fellowship training or who has completed training within 10 years before the application date.
• Applicant must be employed by a hospital or healthcare system, a member of SCCM, and the leader of the submitted project.
• Multiprofessional collaboration with physicians, nurses, information technologists, administrators, and other healthcare professionals is welcome and strongly encouraged.
• SCCM members who have served as chair or chair-elect of the SCCM Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology (CPP) Patient Safety Committee or who have served on the SCCM CPP Executive Committee are not eligible to apply until three years after their term has ended.
• Collaboration on the project with an SCCM member who has served as the chair or chair-elect of the SCCM CPP Patient Safety Committee or who has served on the SCCM CPP Executive Committee does not affect the eligibility of an applicant meeting all other criteria.
• Applicant must upload a verification letter on official letterhead signed by a program director by August 3, 2020. Please make sure the letter includes the name of the applicant, the abstract title, the qualifying criteria, dates of fellowship or training, and the director’s name.

Innovations in Patient and Medication Safety Award
Award Criteria:

• Applicant must be a pharmacist who is an SCCM member and the leader of the submitted project.
• Multiprofessional collaboration with physicians, nurses, information technologists, administrators, and other healthcare professionals is welcome and strongly encouraged.
• SCCM members who have served as the chair or chair-elect of the SCCM CPP Patient Safety Committee or who have served on the SCCM CPP Executive Committee are not eligible to apply until three years after their term has ended.
• Collaboration on the project with an SCCM member who has served as chair or chair-elect of the SCCM CPP Patient Safety Committee or who has served on the SCCM CPP Executive Committee does not affect the eligibility of an applicant meeting all other criteria.

Eligibility Requirements for Abstract and Case Report Reviewers

• Be an SCCM member with engagement status of diamond, platinum, gold, silver, or bronze
• Have 3 years of experience in critical care
• Be published
• Be able to review 20-30 abstracts or case reports between August 8 and 23, 2020.

The deadline to volunteer is 12:00 noon Central Time on Friday, July 17, 2020.
 
To volunteer, please access the Congress abstract website by visiting MySCCM. Log in with your Customer ID and password and select “Congress 2021 Abstract Review” from the right column under “Abstracts” to complete and submit the online form.

Submission Instructions: Abstracts 

Abstract Submission Guide

Abstract Submission Instructional Video 

Submission Instructions: Case Reports 

Case Report Submission Guide

Case Report Submission Instructional Video

How to Access the Submission Site

1. To submit an abstract or case report for the 50th Critical Care Congress, log in to MySCCM with your Customer ID and password, or sign up for an account.
2. Select MY INVOLVEMENT, then select Submit an Abstract on the right side of the page.
3. A new page will open automatically, bringing you to the My Submissions page.

 
Step 1: Submission Type

1. Select your submission type: Abstract or Case Report. Each submission type has different field requirements. Once you choose a submission type, you cannot modify it. If you need to modify it, you must create a new submission and choose a different submission type.
2. Select either Create Abstract or Create Case Report.
3. By clicking on Create Abstract/Case Report, you confirm that the ethics requirements have been satisfied.

 
Step 2: Title
The title should be entered in title case. Please capitalize only the initial letter of the principal words. Articles, conjunctions, and prepositions shorter than 4 letters are not capitalized unless they start the title or subtitle.

1. The tab includes a text field where you can type your text. You must complete all required fields, denoted by red tabs and asterisks (*).
2. No images or tables will be accepted.
3. Select Save.

 
Step 3: Authors

• As the submitter, you will be asked if you are the first author. You must select Yes or No.  First authors enrolled in an educational program must complete a Program Director Information form.  If you are not the first author but are the submitter you must complete the form on their behalf.  The Program Director Information form will request the following information:
  • First Author full name
  • Abstract or Case Report Title
  • Program Director Name
  • Program Type
  • Program Institution
  • Program Director Email Address
• Only the first author of an abstract who meets the complimentary registration criteria will be considered for complimentary registration. Nonmember submitters will be required to pay a $25 submission fee.
• If you select Yes, the system will allow you to enter additional authors.
• If you select No, a search box will appear, so you can select the first author.
  • Enter the last name of the first author in the Last Name field, followed by a comma and the initial of the author’s first name, then select Search.
  • If the author is in the system, the name will appear in the search results.
  • Once you select the appropriate first author, choose Assign First Author.
  • If the author is not in the system, select Can’t Find the Person in the System? Add First Author. Note: Names are not always listed in alphabetical order. Names searched most frequently are listed first.
  • A new page will open with required text fields for author demographics.
  • Complete the required fields and select Submit.
• If you wish to add co-authors, select Add Co-Author.
  • The Find Co-Author field will appear.
  • Enter the last name in the Last Name field, followed by a comma and the initial of the co-author’s first name, then select Search.
  • If the author is in the system, the name will appear in the search results.
    • To add a co-author from the search results, select Assign Co-Author, located to the left of the name.
    • If the search results do not contain the name you are looking for, select Add Co-Author, located at the bottom of the page.
  • If you select Add Co-Author, follow these steps to create an author account.
    • Note: Please be sure that you have searched for an existing author account before creating a new author account. Names are not always listed in alphabetical order. Names searched most frequently are listed first.
    • If the author is not in the system, select Can’t Find the Person in the System? Add Co-Author.
    • A new page will open with required text fields for author demographics.
    • Complete the required fields and select Submit.
    • The new author is displayed on the Authors tab.
    • The order of authors can be changed. To adjust the order, select Edit under the name of any of the authors.
• When finished with the Author screen, select Save.

 
Please ensure that the contact author’s email address is included with the submission. All notifications and correspondence will be sent to all authors included in the submission.
 
Please note: The order in which authors are listed when submitted is final. Be sure to double-check that this information is correct. Also, only accepted abstracts whose first authors are SCCM members at the time of submission in one of the following categories will receive complimentary registration: sponsored fellow, dietitian, nurse, pharmacist, or respiratory therapist. Complimentary registration is not transferrable.
 
Step 4: Properties

1. Complete all the required tabs pertaining to your submission (Introduction/Hypothesis, Methods, Results, Conclusions, Categories, Keywords and Ethics).
2. Select Save within each tab.

 
Step 5: Award Applications

1. Complete the steps for the In-Training Award and Young Investigator Award if you would like to apply and if you meet eligibility requirements.
   • Upload appropriate files as explained on the award web pages.
2. Complete the steps for the CPP Section Patient Safety and Young Investigator Award and Innovations in Patient and Medication Safety Award if you would like to apply and if you meet eligibility requirements.
   • Upload appropriate files as explained on the award web pages.
3. If you would like to apply for a Travel Grant, select the Travel Grant Application Form, which appears under your name in the Authors tab.
4. Confirm the ethical statement by clicking yes and select save.

 
Step 6: Review and Submit
Preview allows you to review the information entered during each step of the submission process.

1. Review your submission information. If any information needs to be updated or contains errors, click on the corresponding tab. You may return to your submission to modify any section at any time before submitting the final version.
2. Ensure that all steps are complete as indicated by the blue or white boxes on each tab. If a tab appears red, you missed a step in that section.
3. If your submission is complete, check the box next to Yes, I am Ready to Submit My Submission, then select Finalize. (Nonmembers will submit their payment at this time.)
4. The My Submissions screen will display the submission you just created.
5. If accepted after peer review, the abstract will be published as submitted in a supplement to the journal Critical Care Medicine.

Formatting Guidelines
 
All submissions should conform to the following content structure and formatting guidelines. Failure to follow these guidelines will result in a low score and may cause your submission to be disqualified.
 
Abstracts

• Each submission is limited to a total of 2,400 characters, including spaces. Each section of the abstract has a character limit. The body may contain 2,300 characters. The title may contain 100 characters.
• There is a limit of 20 authors.
• Subheadings (ex, Methods, Results, etc.) should not be included in the body of the abstract. Subheadings are automatically formatted in the final abstract layout, so adding them will result in duplication and will needlessly count against the total available characters.
• The abstract may not contain tables or images.
• Phrases such as “Results/methods will be discussed” and “Additional data will be presented” convey no relevant information and are unacceptable.
• The abstract cannot contain any HTML codes. To avoid formatting inconsistencies, please do not copy and paste text directly from Microsoft Word. Instead, paste the content into a plain text editor (such as Notepad) and then transfer the content from there.
• Please do not use all uppercase. Turn off the caps lock feature.

View a sample abstract

Case Reports

• Each submission is limited to a total of 2,400 characters, including spaces. Each section of the case report has a character limit. The body may contain 2,300 characters. The title may contain 100 characters.
• There is a limit of 20 authors.
• Please include the following elements in your case report:
  • Title and list of authors
  • Introduction
  • Description of the case
  • Discussion of the originality and importance of the case
• The case report cannot contain any HTML codes. To avoid formatting inconsistencies, please do not copy and paste case text directly from Microsoft Word. Instead, paste the content into a plain text editor (such as Notepad) and then transfer the content from there.
• The case report may not contain tables or images.
• Please do not use all uppercase. Turn off the caps lock feature.

View a sample case report.