Section Chair Thomas P. Green (tgreen@nwu.edu) called the meeting to order. Approximately 100 section members were present.The minutes of the previous year's meeting, held in New Orleans, were approved as posted on the Section's web site.
There was no election to conduct.
The Treasurer's Report was provided by Dr. Green, who indicated that the Section has $2,379.11 on hand, of which approximately $850 were derived from contributions from the membership. Dr. Green observed a decrease in expenses associated with communication to the membership. This decrease was attributed to greater reliance on electronic communications, including E-mail and the World Wide Web.
Dr. Green reminded the membership that members of the Council would be elected at this evening's SCCM business meeting, and that Patrick Kochanek, a member of the section was running for election.
Dr. Green indicated that he would be Chair of the Program Subcommittee for the 1999 Symposium. He solicited comments and suggestions from the members.
Committee Reports
Aaron Zucker reported that the Pediatric Current Concepts Course, chaired by Dr. Zucker and Dr. D. Steinhorn, had been a great success. Dr. Zucker will be retiring in his capacity as Co-Chair of the course, and upon nomination by Dr. Steinhorn, Dr. Olga Mohan was approved by acclamation as the New Co-Director.William Perloff presented the report of the regionalization committee. The regionalization document, approved by the Section in New Orleans, was not approved by the COPEM of the AAP. The document has been revised in accord with COPEM suggestions, and will be returned to that group for their April, 1997 meeting.
David Jaimovich reported that the PICU Admission and Discharge Criteria Committee, previously approved by the Section, was approved by AAP and is currently under revision by the ACCM board. The Committee has now taken on the task of Intermediate Care Guidelines, and a preliminary version will soon be posted on the web site.
Carl Weigle presented the report of the Internet Committee. He noted that approximately 1500 individuals currently subscribe to the PICU list. A PICU list journal club is planned, and should be initiated shortly. There are a growing number of volunteer editors for the Section web page, but not yet enough interest in offering scholarly articles for original electronic publication. Dr. Weigle mentioned the successful electronic publication of abstracts for the recently held Pediatric Critical Care Colloquium.
James Royall gave the report from the PCCSG. He reported on recent interest in incorporating nurses and other non-physician critical care colleagues into the PCCSG. Current membership will be polled to learn whether there is wide interest in this change. The Executive Committee (of the PCCSG) will present a plan at the next Critical Care Colloquium. Dr. Royall also noted that the proposal submission process had been extensively revised under the leadership of Dr. F. Moler, and that the group continues to plan a process for conducting prospective, randomized trials.
Alan Fields presented the report of the American College of Critical Care Medicine (ACCM). He noted that the Credentials Committee had been again revised. ACCM has participated in several practice parameters, including "Acute Respiratory Failure," and a new parameter, "Sepsis and Hemodynamic Instability," which will be written under the leadership of Joseph Caricillo.
The Clinical Practice Guideline committee report was presented by Mark Swanson. This group has finished guidelines for acute respiratory failure. The AAP decided not to participate in the guidelines, and our version will be published with the ACCM Adult Practice Parameters.
Richard Brilli presented the Fellowship Directors report. Dr. Brilli presented a synopsis of the Fellowship Director's Meeting, held earlier in the day. There are now 587 board-certified pediatric intensivists and 62 accredited programs. The consensus of the group is that the number of pediatricians in training for critical care medicine probably exceeds the need for this specialty. Dr. Brilli also mentioned that the Residency Review Committee is presently examining proposed revisions of program requirements for Pediatric Critical Care Medicine. A group of program directors was formed in order to review the present requirements, and to suggest changes to the RRC and the American Board of Pediatrics. Dan Notterman, Chairman of the Subboard of PCCM, mentioned that the Subboard had been asked to take a lead in re-formulating the Program Requirements. The Subboard will make its recommendations to the ABP, which will submit them no later than June 1st of this year. Dr. Notterman invited the Fellowship Directors to submit their suggestions to the Subboard, or to Dr. Ann Thompson, who is coordinating this activity for the Subboard. Dr. Brilli also proposed a Database of Pediatric Critical Care Specialists, with the goal of tracking the natural history of the intensivist's career.
Ann Thompson reported on issues from the SCCM Council . She noted that the Pediatric Section, by virtue of its level of activity and its contribution to the Society was a model for the SCCM. She requested that the membership provide her with their suggestions regarding the educational efforts of the SCCM. In particular, she hoped that members would provide ideas for enhancing the Annual Symbiosum. Dr. Thompson announced formation of a new committee, "Physician Extenders in the ICU," and requested volunteers. She urged younger members to become active in leadership of the Section.
Dan Notterman provided a report from the Subboard of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine of the ABP. He indicated that 89 new trainees had entered a PCCM training program, and that, in the future, all residents who elect to enter a pediatric subspecialty will be tracked in order to maintain accurate prospective workforce information. Two hundred twenty one (221) pediatricians sat for the CCM certifying examination in 1996 of whom approximately two-thirds passed. .
New Business
Brahm Goldstein mentioned that he had been requested by the Editors of Critical Care Medicine to guest edit an issue of New Horizons which is devoted to pediatrics. Dr. Goldstein solicited suggestions. Patrick Kochanek, a Scientific Editor for Critical Care Medicine, explained the new process for distributing manuscripts for review. John Mickel provided an updated "Job List" for positions in PCCM.A motion was made to adjourn, was seconded, and passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
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