Title CRITICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE CRITICALLY ILL Author(s) and Affiliations(s) Ashish K. Khanna MD#, Krzysztof Laudanski MD, PhD, MA*; In-training Section, Society for Critical Care Medicine. 500 Midway Dr. Mount Prospect, IL 60056. # CA-1 Resident in Anesthesiology and Resident Research Coordinator Anesthesiology Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44195; Khannaa@ccf.org *Assistant Professor Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care. University of Pennsylvania. Dulles 7 780A, 3400 Spruce Street. 19104; klaudanski@gmail.com
CRITICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE CRITICALLY ILL Critical Care is at the crossroads today. 1 The ambiguity of the term critical care is also depicted in the shared nature of lead physician in the ICU. At the same time there is an even greater need to improve ICU care along with an unprecedented demand for wellqualified intensivists across the globe. 2 The Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) was founded in 1970 by a group of like-minded physicians with an interest in Critical Care. Today the SCCM is a multi-professional organization devoted exclusively to the advancement of critical care medicine. In 1986, the American Board of Medical Specialties approved a certification of special competence in critical care for the four primary boards: anesthesiology, internal medicine, pediatrics, and surgery. In the last few years, a need was felt to reach out to the residents and fellows in these primary specialties and indeed other providers in the ICUs. Consequently, the work of The In-Training Section ; one of the newer sections of SCCM increased in importance. The specific aim of the section is further development and fostering of the trainees and young faculty in their transition process from students to medical professionals holding senior positions. The section aims to support all in-training professionals in critical care in their early steps of career development after training. The underlying theme is that an open and collaborative approach will foster an interdisciplinary methodology in critical care. Promoting research and volunteering activity is an additional goal of the section. In addition to outreach and encouragement of active resident participation, developing an interactive session at the SCCM Annual Congress aimed at facilitating the transition from resident to fellow to faculty in a variety of aspects is one of the section s main strategic goals. This is an avenue for residents and fellows early in their training to network and exchange ideas on the scope and new avenues relevant to critical care. In addition we will organize talks with a specific focus on issues pertinent to career development for a young ICU physician and the future ICU physician in the making.
The available career pathways in Critical Care after finishing Critical Care training, developing effective leadership skills in the ICU and reimbursement in Critical Care with an emphasis on management of finances once moving from trainee to attending status, are just some of the broad topics that are in the pipeline for the In-training meet and greet session at the 2013 Annual Congress. In addition, CME credit for these sessions is also being actively sought. Critical assessment of critical care today is thought provoking to say the least. ICUs are no longer just the final frontier for the dying; they are in fact portals for timely acute care intervention and prevention of multi-organ failure. Oxygenation, ventilation and resuscitation are indeed more than Tender Loving Care (TLC) in this environment. This is just the beginning and a lot needs to be done. The experience of those involved in the work of section has been extremely fulfilling to date. The In-training section is our own niche and a great platform for the future. If you have suggestions, concerns, or are eager to share and realize your approaches, this section is a perfect place to do so. The governance of the steering committee welcomes new ideas and fresh inputs, please feel free to contact us. The SCCM webpage has a lot more information at http://www.sccm.org/membership/specialty_sections/in-training/pages/default.aspx SCCM In-Training Section Governance Section Officer: Chair Laura A. Watkins, MD University of Pittsburgh lwatkins@nshs.edu Chair-elect Utpal S. Bhalala, MD The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia bhalalau@email.chop.edu Term: 2012 2014
Secretary/Treasurer Jay G. Shake, MD Scott & White Clinic Temple, TX jshake@swmail.sw.org Past Chair Krzysztof Laudanski, MD University of Pennsylvania klaudanski@gmail.com Members at-large Ashish K. Khanna Cleveland Clinic Foundation Cleveland, OH khannaa@ccf.org Mayur B. Patel, MD Vanderbilt University Medical Center Nashville, TN mayur.b.patel@vanderbilt.edu Ayan Sen, MD University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Presbyterian Pittsburgh, PA ayan2024@gmail.com Council Liaison Todd Dorman, MD, FCCM Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine - Turner 17 Baltimore, MD tdorman@jhmi.edu Janice L. Zimmerman, MD, FCCM Methodist Hospital Houston, TX janicez@tmhs.org
References: 1. Rosenthal MH. Critical care medicine: at the crossroads. Anesth Analg. 1995 Sep;81(3):439-40. 2. Angus DC, Kelley MA, Schmitz RJ, et al. Caring for the critically ill patient. Current and projected workforce requirements for care of the critically ill and patients with pulmonary disease: Can we meet the requirements of an aging population? JAMA.2000; 284:2762-2770.