Society of Critical Care Medicine President Jose L. Pascual, MD, PhD, FRCS(C), FACS, FCCM, describes the Society's commitment to improving patient outcomes through innovative global initiatives.
Many members join the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) for benefits such as access to our journals, discounts on educational programs such as Congress, and the latest news and research distributed via our many communications channels. While these are valuable, what truly sets SCCM apart is our commitment to improving patient outcomes through innovative global initiatives.
Unique Focus on Global Impact
Unlike most other medical societies, SCCM focuses on improving care globally. In 2023, SCCM launched a global initiative focused on reducing sepsis-related mortality in low-resource settings. Recognizing the disproportionate burden of sepsis in these environments, SCCM is collaborating with international clinicians to identify gaps in care and address system-specific challenges through these methods:
- Global surveys to capture insights from frontline clinicians
- Thorough assessment of current clinical practices and obstacles
- Development of consensus-driven patient management
To support implementation, SCCM is creating practical tools and educational resources that enable timely, effective sepsis management.
Collaborating for Broader Change
As an extension of this global effort, SCCM is actively engaged with the World Health Organization’s Acute Care Action Network (WHO ACAN). Through this partnership, SCCM contributes its expertise and resources to strengthen acute and critical care delivery in low-resource settings. This collaboration enables the sharing of best practices, facilitates coordinated quality improvement initiatives, and supports the global drive to reduce mortality due to critical illness.
Centers of Excellence: Building an ICU Network
SCCM’s ICU Centers of Excellence program has generated significant national and international interest, with 47 institutions submitting applications for the inaugural cohort. The first module, ICU Liberation, focuses on advancing evidence-based practices and improving patient outcomes in ICUs.
Given the overwhelming response, SCCM is actively working to accommodate all qualified applicants, aiming to enroll an initial cohort of accepted sites and ensure broad participation. This approach underscores SCCM’s commitment to fostering a collaborative network of high-performing ICUs.
SCCM plans to expand the program in 2026 by introducing additional critical care modules to further support the continuous improvement of ICU care across diverse settings. Learn more about the program
here.
Infrastructure That Saves Lives
This spring, SCCM’s first global healthcare infrastructure project,
Africa Infrastructure Relief and Support (AIRS) will conclude. The installations of solar energy and medical oxygen in hospitals in the Gambia, Liberia, and Sierra Leone have had an immediate impact, allowing for uninterrupted healthcare delivery to hospitals and empowering clinicians to save lives through continuous patient care. To promote sustainable operation and advancement of healthcare systems, AIRS has also empowered locals with technician training and critical care education.
Supporting Clinicians in Crisis Zones
Dedicated to empowering critical care professionals globally, SCCM continues to provide vital relief and capacity-building support to healthcare systems in crisis-stricken regions worldwide. With support from Direct Relief, we will return to Lviv, Ukraine, in August to train 150 clinicians to care for the most vulnerable populations with the FCCS: Obstetrics, and FCCS: Pediatrics, and FCCS: Surgical courses. We will also support critical care clinicians and patients in the West Bank through a series of SCCM courses, training local faculty and encouraging broader implementation of skills.
Exploring New Opportunities
Recently SCCM participated in the World Health Summit in New Delhi, India, which had over 3500 participants. The theme was Scaling Access to Ensure Health Equity with a focus on the impact of climate change on health, using AI/digital technology to help in low-resource settings, and funding issues caused by the elimination of USAID and the underfunding of other large organizations such as WHO and The Global Fund. During the summit, SCCM presented its work on medical oxygen security, emphasizing its AIRS project and the broad approach we have taken to building healthcare infrastructure to include solar energy and oxygen, basic services that must be available before training programs can make a difference. During the summit, SCCM made many valuable contacts with possible future partners who share similar interests.
Thank You for Your Commitment
Your engagement fuels SCCM’s mission to improve critical care worldwide. Together, we are not only advancing clinical excellence but also building a more equitable and resilient global healthcare system.
