SCCM Podcast

Retaining highly skilled advanced practice nurses and physician assistants in intensive care units is vital for maintaining excellent quality and safety in critical care. In the third episode of SCCM's podcast series on quality and safety in critical care, Diane C. McLaughlin, DNP, AGACNP-BC, CCRN, FCCM, is joined by Roy H. Constantine, MPH, PA-C, PhD, FCCM, and Jose Chavez, DNP, CNS, RN, CCRN, FCCM, to discuss best practices for retention and how retention impacts patient outcomes in critical care settings.

The importance of retaining seasoned physicians in the ICU is crucial for maintaining high standards of patient care. In the second episode of SCCM’s podcast series on quality and safety in critical care, Elizabeth H. Mack, MD, MS, FCCM, is joined by Alexander O. Sy, MBA, MD, MSL, FCCM, to discuss effective retention strategies, their direct impact on patient outcomes, and the broader effects on healthcare teams and organizational efficiency.

Host Samantha Gambles Farr, MSN, AG-ACNP, FNP-C, RNFA, is joined by Roman Melamed, MD, to discuss the comparative effectiveness of reduced-dose versus full-dose alteplase for acute pulmonary embolism, focusing on patient outcomes and complications. They will highlight study findings on significant improvements in hemodynamic and respiratory parameters in both groups, with a lower rate of hemorrhagic complications in the reduced-dose group (Melamed R, et al. Crit Care Med. 2024;52:729-742). Dr. Melamed is a critical care intensivist and director of the Pulmonary Embolism Program at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, and an adjunct associate professor at the University of Minnesota.

Host Marilyn N. Bulloch, PharmD, BCPS, FCCM, is joined by Catherine Beni, MD, PhD, to discuss a study aimed at determining outcomes of extracorporeal CPR (ECPR) in pediatric patients without congenital cardiac disease and identifying associations with in-hospital mortality of factors such as initial arrest rhythm and patient demographics (Beni CE, et al. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2023 Nov;24:927-935). Catherine Beni, MD, PhD, is a resident physician in the department of surgery at the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington.

Host Maureen A. Madden, DNP, RN, CPNC-AC, CCRN, FCCM, is joined by Michael C. McCrory, MD, MS, FCCM, to discuss a multicenter retrospective study evaluating the impact of neighborhood, as categorized by the Child Opportunity Index, on pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) outcomes such as mortality, illness severity, and PICU length of stay. The study highlights the disparities in PICU admissions based on socioeconomic factors (McCrory MC, et al. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2024 Apr;25:323-334). Michael C. McCrory, MD, MS, FCCM, is an associate professor in the departments of Anesthesiology and Pediatrics at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Host Elizabeth H. Mack, MD, MS, FCCM, is joined by Samuel Snider, MD, and Michael Fong, MD, to discuss a retrospective cohort study that examined factors such as cardiac arrest, brain neoplasms, and EEG patterns to determine their association with status epilepticus and isolated seizures in critically ill patients, aiming to improve monitoring and treatment strategies for high-risk patients (Snider SB, et al. Crit Care Med. 2023 Aug;51:1001-1011). Samuel Snider, MD, is a board-certified neurologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital and an instructor of neurology at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts. Michael Fong, MD, is an assistant professor adjunct at the Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut.

Host Elizabeth H. Mack, MD, MS, FCCM, is joined by Luregn J. Schlapbach, MD, PhD, FCICM, to discuss the Pediatric Critical Care Medicine article, "Resuscitation With Early Adrenaline Infusion for Children With Septic Shock: A Randomized Pilot Trial" (Harley A, et al. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2024 Feb;25:106-117). The study found that a fluid-sparing algorithm for children presenting with septic shock using early adrenaline is feasible. Dr. Schlapbach is a professor and chief of intensive care and neonatology at the University Children's Hospital in Zurich, Switzerland.

Host Kyle B. Enfield, MD, FCCM, is joined by Daisuke Kawakami, MD, to discuss the Critical Care Medicine article, “Evaluation of the Impact of ABCDEF Bundle Compliance Rates on Postintensive Care Syndrome: A Secondary Analysis Study.” (Kawakami D, et al. Crit Care Med. 2023 Dec;51:1685-1696). The study examines how compliance with the ICU Liberation Bundle (A-F) impacts post-intensive care syndrome and intensive care unit mortality rates Dr. Kawakami is a physician in the Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine at St. Marianna University School of Medicine in Kawasaki, Japan. Learn more about the ICU Liberation Bundle at sccm.org/iculiberation.

Delve into the realm of implementation science and its significance in bridging the gap between research-based evidence and critical care practice. Host Marilyn N. Bulloch, PharmD, BCPS, FCCM, is joined by Anne E. Sales, PhD, RN, to discuss the complexity of implementation science, which involves understanding human behavior change within organizational constraints. They explore examples such as hypertension treatment to illustrate the challenges and opportunities of implementing evidence-based practices. They discuss the importance of context, resources, and stakeholder engagement in successful implementation efforts in the critical care setting where complex interventions and rapid changes are common. Dr. Sales is a nurse and professor at the Sinclair School of Nursing and the Department of Family and Community Medicine in the School of Medicine at the University of Missouri, and associate dean for implementation research and health delivery effectiveness in the School of Medicine. She is a research scientist at the Center for Clinical Management Research at the VA Ann Arbor Health System in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.

Improving health literacy is vital for addressing disparities in healthcare access and quality. Join Host Kyle B. Enfield, MD, FSHEA, FCCM, and Jerome Adams, MD, MPH, FASA, as they discuss the urgent need for health equity initiatives and innovative solutions to systemic healthcare challenges. Learn why providing accessible information and empowering individuals to advocate for their health is key. Dr. Adams was the 20th U.S. Surgeon General when the COVID-19 pandemic began and had a front-row seat to the government’s response to COVID-19. Dr. Adams provided his perspective on that response in his book Crisis and Chaos: Lessons from the Front Lines of the War Against COVID-19, which was published in October 2023. The book examines the past three years since the pandemic began, but Dr. Adams said that it also applies to America’s future unless changes are made. He presented his perspectives during the 2024 Critical Care Congress in a thought leader session and shares additional insights during this podcast episode. While Dr. Adams was U.S. Surgeon General, from 2017 to 2021, he led the 6000-person U.S. Public Health Service through responses to three category 5 hurricanes and an opioid epidemic in addition to the COVID-19 pandemic. Previously he was Indiana’s state health commissioner, where he addressed Ebola, Zika, and HIV crises. Today he is the executive director of health equity initiatives at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, USA, where he is also a distinguished professor of practice in the public health and pharmacy practice departments.

The Society of Critical Care Medicine’s (SCCM) new global health project, Africa Infrastructure Relief and Support (AIRS), will ensure the availability of medical oxygen to patients in the Gambia, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, made possible by a $5.5 million grant from Direct Relief and in collaboration with the Johns Hopkins Global Alliance of Perioperative Professionals (GAPP) and the Institute of Global Perioperative Care (IGPC). Host Samantha Gambles Farr, MSN, AG-ACNP, FNP-C, CCRN, RNFA, is joined by John B. Sampson, MD, executive director of GAPP and a critical care anesthesiologist at Johns Hopkins University, to discuss the AIRS project. AIRS tackles challenges such as energy shortages and outdated infrastructure to tailor solutions to each country. AIRS prioritizes sustainability and capacity building to empower local communities and address global health disparities. Listeners are urged to support AIRS by raising awareness, advocating for sustainable healthcare, and exploring collaboration and funding opportunities.

This episode of the Society of Critical Care Medicine Podcast offers insights on hemodynamics monitoring in critically ill patients. Kyle Enfield, MD, FCCM, is joined by Courtney Bennett, DO, FCC, FASE, to discuss foundational concepts in hemodynamic monitoring and shock management, stressing the importance of understanding data quality and ongoing debates in critical care. SCCM offers a hemodynamic monitoring skills precourse as part of its Critical Care Congress programming. Courtney Bennett, DO, FCC, FASE, is an associate professor at Lee Valley Health Network in Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA.

While advanced monitoring technology can provide valuable information, the importance of clinical judgment and examination should not be minimized. Host Ludwig H. Lin, MD, is joined by Maurizio Cecconi, MD, to discuss the integration of clinical judgment with technology when assessing hemodynamic instability and shock. They emphasize the importance of fluid challenges tailored to individual patient characteristics, along with standardized approaches. Dr. Cecconi explores the role of big data and artificial intelligence (AI) in treatment refinement and advocates for global access to care. He highlights fluid responsiveness dynamics and the interaction between fluids and vasopressors, urging a cautious approach to fluid administration due to its drug-like effects. Dr. Cecconi is an anesthesiologist and intensive care specialist and chair of the Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care at Humanitas Research Hospital and University in Milan, Italy. This podcast is sponsored by Baxter Healthcare.

Host Maureen A. Madden, DNP, RN, CPNP-AC, CCRN, FCCM, is joined by Susanna Rudy, ACNP, DNP, to discuss her journey from developing ultrasound training programs to volunteering in conflict zones and pandemic hotspots. She also highlights the crucial role of advanced practice providers (APPs) in critical care. Dr. Rudy is an acute care family medicine and emergency medicine nurse practitioner at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. Dr. Rudy believes in seizing opportunities for professional growth and humanitarian service.

This is the fifth episode of SCCM's Current Concepts Series, in which authors unveil exclusive insights into the 2024 Current Concepts Course. Diane C. McLaughlin, DNP, AGACNP-BC, CCRN, FCCM, is joined by Paritosh Prasad, BA, BS, MBA, MD, to discuss the management of acute and acute-on-chronic liver failure.

This is the fourth episode of SCCM’s Current Concepts Series. Diane C. McLaughlin, DNP, AGACNP-BC, CCRN, FCCM, is joined by Kwame A. Akuamoah-Boateng, DNP, ACNP-BC, FCCM, and Collin Sprenker, PA-C, to discuss effective, culturally sensitive end-of-life care. Discover why this topic is a crucial current concept in critical care as the guests share insights and personal experiences in dealing with end-of-life care.

In the first of a series of podcast episodes focused on quality and patient safety, host Maureen A. Madden, DNP, RN, CPNC-AC, CCRN, FCCM, is joined by Anita J. Reddy, MD, MBA, FCCP, FCCM, and Jose Chavez, DNP, RN, ACCNS-AG, CCRN, FCCM. They discuss the links among patient safety, workforce retention, and how the COVID-19 pandemic shifted the landscape. They explore effective staff retention strategies that can impact patient care and enhance the resilience of healthcare organizations.

Unlock the key to captivating your audience with our Leadership, Empowerment, and Development (LEAD) Program. Have you ever left a presentation wondering if anyone was really paying attention? In this episode, Kyle Enfield, MD, FCCM is joined by Amanda R. Emke, MD, MHPE, to discuss the essential skills needed to create presentations that leave a lasting impression. From weaving compelling narratives to incorporating interactive elements, learn how to command the stage with confidence and ensure your audience walks away truly moved.

As advanced practice provider (APP) postgraduate programs expand, what lessons have we learned as program directors? In this second episode of the APP Fellowship series, Diane C. McLaughlin, DNP, AGACNP-BC, CCRN, is joined by Melissa Ricker, DMSc, PA-C, and Sarah Peacock, DNP, APRN to discuss their experiences as program directors of APP fellowships in critical care. This episode will focus on the benefits and barriers of APP fellowship programs, focusing on the program director’s experience.

As advanced practice provider (APP) postgraduate programs expand, what can we learn from the graduates themselves? Diane C. McLaughlin, DNP, AGACNP-BC, CCRN, is joined by Dalton Gifford PA-C and Benjamin Lassow, PA-C to discuss their experiences as recent graduates of APP fellowships in critical care; focusing on the benefits and barriers of APP fellowship programs, and the learner’s experience.