To put together an event of the size of the SCCM Annual Congress (6,000 participants), takes a methodical and detailed approach.  As the famous song by Streisand goes, it takes a lot of effort and must be done bit by bit.  This is my second entry on the 2011 Annual Congress as we prepare for the 40th anniversary celebration event. Read the rest of this entry »

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I’m in sunny San Diego, California for the final site visit for the 2011 Annual Congress (January 15-19, 2011.)   As I am frequently asked about Congress and how it all comes together, I thought I would take this opportunity to make a few postings  on this subject.

The San Diego Marriott, pictured here, was booked several years ago (we typically select Congress sites 6-10 years in advance) as one of our housing options for registrants. It is undergoing extensive renovations which are expected to continue for at least another year. Guest rooms have been updated to a modern style, and public areas are scheduled to be renovated throughout the next year.   The last time we were in San Diego (2002) the Convention Center proved a bit tight, so in 2011 we will make use of the newer side of the Center which has larger rooms. Read the rest of this entry »

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Upon returning from India, I had a number of meetings with SCCM staff to help me get back ‘in the loop’ with our operational activities.  From these meetings, I was struck how our online capabilities continue to grow and develop. 

For the first time this year, the MCCKAP exam will be offered online, providing almost immediate feedback to participants on their level of critical care knowledge. In addition, since the exam is now paperless, mailing and administrative costs are reduced. Programs will still receive the same advanced statistical analysis of their fellows as a group, but this year that comprehensive feedback will be provided more quickly.  The 2010 exam will take place March 1-5 and sales have been comparable to prior years.  We are preparing to provide extra support this year to handle technical and other calls which may be caused by the transition to the online platform. Read the rest of this entry »

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Our meetings and travels here in India have wrapped up and we begin the long journey home.  The flight from Delhi to Chicago is 15 hours and will give me time to reflect on the many sights, sounds and conversations I  enjoyed during this spectacular trip.  We’ve made many new friends and further cemented long-standing friendships.  If you ever have the opportunity, consider visiting enchanting India.  Its people are warm and friendly, its historic sites are impressive and the food is wonderful.

As some of you may know,  I am a ‘foodie’ and also have a food blog (Cooking with Julian).  There I have posted about my visit to a Sikh Langer (community kitchen.)  Check it out if you have some time and the interest.  I found it quite fascinating and enjoyable. 

I wrap up with thanks to our many members and friends in India, without whom this special journey would not have been possible.

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The Fundamental Critical Care Support (FCCS) course has been very popular in India for quite some time. Just recently the Fundamental Disaster Management (FDM) course was launched in Mumbai, India, and this week, during the Indian Society of Critical Care Medicine (ISCCM) meeting, a second course was held. In addition to intensivists and members of the ICU team, a number of hospital administrators also attended.

Today during our meeting with the leadership of ISCCM, we discussed our partnernship, the many successes we have already achieved, and how we can continue to work together to improve care of the critically ill and injured. We also discussed specifics, such as printing FCCS in India to reduce costs and shipping times and improving the overall FCCS business process. SCCM committed to working with ISCCM on these important issues. Additionally, we discussed online learning opportunities and shared with ISCCM some business management strategies that have proved successful at SCCM. ISCCM also presented us with copies of their latest newsletter, which featured many photos and articles related to the ISCCM/SCCM partnership signing ceremony held in Miami Beach during the 39th Critical Care Congress. Read the rest of this entry »

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