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The Coalition for Critical Care Excellence
Aspect Medical System's commitment to continuous quality improvement in the critical care arena is reflected in its role as a partner in the Coalition for Critical Care Excellence (CCCE). The CCCE is comprised of critical care clinicians and 17 representatives from the medical technology industry, including Aspect, that serve the critical care environment. The CCCE is dedicated to the support of ICU-related projects that can benefit from clinical and industry expertise.
The CCCE was created by the Society for Critical Care Medicine in 1991, and industry membership is determined on the basis of a company's commitment to the CCCE. "The Coalition is a determined effort to bring together the best minds in critical care to develop innovative solutions that will benefit critically ill patients. The industry members of the CCCE check their commercial interests at the door," says Patricia McGaffigan, Aspect's CCCE representative and Director of Marketing for Critical Care." Member companies undergo a rigorous assessment and site visit before acceptance to ensure that they are committed to critical care and are able and willing to contribute beyond their own commercial interests." The CCCE has numerous past accomplishments and is currently engaged in several major initiatives which are consistent with the current priorities of SCCM. A key priority for the CCCE is the development of resources to implement the multidisciplinary, intensivist-directed, team model of critical care delivery. "Studies show that ICU patients who receive care from such team models may have better outcomes than those whose care may be managed by other models," says McGaffigan. "The CCCE is examining a variety of ways to make this model of critical care realizable and sustainable on a wider scale." Another area of focus for the CCCE is the development of ICU specifications for Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE) systems. It is widely believed that such systems offer valuable checks and balances against medical errors and may facilitate improved outcomes. "The CCCE is developing guidelines that will help those who develop and purchase CPOE systems to ensure that the unique needs and complexities of the critical care environment are accommodated by such systems," says McGaffigan. The closed-loop initiative is centered on defining the value that various closed-loop technology systems may offer for enhancing the quality of care in the ICU." Closed-loop systems, which automatically adjust settings and drug delivery in accordance with changes in patient status, may have a greater role to play in the critical care setting," says McGaffigan, "but there is no consensus on their value or the priorities for their role in the ICU. Such systems may have the potential to enhance the utility of technology to the clinician, as an accessory tool, without becoming a substitute for keen clinical judgment. The goal of the CCCE closed-loop working group is to activate broader dialogue on the future roles of closed-loop technology in the ICU." Another major focus for the CCCE is patient safety. "The critical care environment, for a variety of complex reasons, may carry its own set of risks for patients. These risks may not be directly related to the problem for which the patient needs ICU care, but more related to the environment of care and the function of the critical care team. The challenge lies in identifying processes that can optimize the safety and quality of ICU care," says McGaffigan. The patient safety work group is studying current best practices related to several key safety concerns and examining possible methods to share these models more broadly with the critical care community. Also in the early stages of the CCCE's efforts is an exploration of the value of simulation technologies for training ICU personnel. "Computer-based simulation technologies have promise for helping establish behaviors and processes that can ensure ICU teams are working optimally," says McGaffigan. "We're very early into this part of our work, but it will become increasingly important as we look for ways to continually optimize the function of the critical care team to improve patient care in the ICU." "Aspect's participation in the CCCE is invaluable to the company," adds McGaffigan. "It's an opportunity to work with the best, most committed minds in the field to bring about important improvements in patient care. And, it helps us integrate that thinking into our corporate strategies so that we meet the needs of those on the front lines in the ICU and those under their care."
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