CCSC Discusses Shared Agenda

Arriving at a shared definition of ventilator-acquired pneumonia, addressing the shortage of critical care professionals and fostering ICU teams and clinical competencies were among the topics discussed in July at a leadership retreat of the Critical Care Societies Collaborative, or CCSC.

The collaborative comprises the ATS, American College of Chest Physicians, Society of Critical Care Medicine and the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. ATS President Nick Hill, MD, chaired the daylong meeting, which was held at the SCCM’s headquarters, outside Chicago.

The meeting retreat began with a discussion with Don Wright, MD, MPH, deputy assistant secretary of Health and Human Services, about the awards program the collaborative created with the HHS to recognize efforts to reduce healthcare-associated infections. Exemplary programs to reduce HAIs were recognized for the first time at this year’s ATS International Conference.

Dr. Wright praised the four societies for working together, noting that it’s often hard for organizations to work together when, as on some level, they are also competitors. “You have a much stronger voice,” he said, “when you speak as one.”

The collaborative also discussed whether to consider a formal relationship with other critical care coalitions on advocacy efforts for the field, as well as reviewing the research agenda for critical care formulated by the four societies. The agenda will be published in all four societies’ journals later this year or early next year. Learn more about the collaborative at www.ccsconline.org.

Dr. Don Wright (front row center), deputy assistant secretary of Health and Human Services, praised the Critical Care Societies Collaborative for working together to improve patient care.