ESICM President Maurizio Cecconi, President-Elect Elie Azoulay and Congress Chair Armand Girbes officially opened the LIVES Digital 2021 Congress with a welcome address, an update on ESICM’s activities and initiatives and an overview of the Congress programme. 


The COVID-19 crisis has put intensive care medicine at the heart of all concerns within the medical community on a governmental and state level but also in the mind of the general public. More people understand its crucial role in healthcare. These last 18 months have deeply accelerated the action and impact of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine.

 

Prof Maurizio Cecconi, ESICM President, welcomed participants to the Congress and said that the event allowed the intensive care global community to unite as one. He acknowledged the contribution of all critical care workers who have worked and fought so hard during this period and also paid tribute to colleagues and friends who have given their lives to save others and, of course, to all the victims of COVID-19 and their families and communities whose lives have been deeply affected. Prof Cecconi also thanked the entire community of nurses and allied healthcare professionals for their commitment and going the extra mile during this time. He said that without their hard work, it would be impossible to do ours. In addition, he thanked all the citizens who have been fighting to protect themselves and each other from the virus through isolation, adopting the right behaviours, adhering to public health measures and through vaccinations. At the same time, Prof Cecconi pointed out that while everyone has done a lot, it is still not enough, and it is now time to fight for global vaccination.

 

Prof Cecconi also highlighted the problem of misinformation during the pandemic and how the medical community has a responsibility beyond providing care and relaying concise and clear information regarding COVID-19. He said that as medical professionals, we must speak and give clear messages to the public. There was a need to promote vaccinations and promote only treatments that have proven effective and safe. He emphasised the need to speak with one single voice as a global clinical and scientific community.  

 

ESICM is a European society, but as Prof Cecconi pointed out in his welcome address, he would

like to think of it as a global intensive care society. ESICM has memberships in 120 countries and relationships with numerous international societies related to intensive care. When speaking about the pillars of ESICM, he said that the most important pillar is our membership and the education and research activities and the journals. Despite the pandemic, the Society has continued its master classes, webinars, podcasts, talks and interviews with experts. #LIVES2021 was again a live event providing intensive care professionals from around the world to interact with each other and intensive care experts.

 

Prof Cecconi talked about the five key values of ESICM, which will continue to drive its actions in the future. These include diversity, respect, inclusiveness, vision and excellence. When speaking about the Society's objectives in the months ahead, he said that there was much more to do at the global level, especially in terms of fair access to vaccinations. There is also more to do for the global intensive care community and promote more collaboration between different parts of the world. He said it wasn't about teaching other people but about learning from each other and ultimately growing intensive care standards worldwide.  

 

Prof Armand Girbes, Chairman of the Department of intensive care at the University Hospital VUmc, Amsterdam, also thanked the Congress participants. He discussed the scientific programme and highlighted that 485 speakers and more than 6 000 delegates would be part of the Congress during the next four days. He thanked the industry for their support during these difficult times. The Congress will offer video on demand and more than 152 hours with 590 presentations and many live sessions with 31 hours and 464 presentations.

 

Prof Elie Azoulay, President-Elect of ESICM, also welcomed all participants. He discussed his findings on patient and family research and highlighted the importance of understanding the ICU experience from a patient point of view and a family point of view.  He talked about two parallel concepts: one is patient-centred care where everything is done for the patient to achieve the best outcomes and survival. However, some patients don't survive, and at which point end-of-life care becomes important. There is also family-centred care which is based on the experience of family members. While every family is different, family members have some common needs. One of those is information and communication. The European Society of Intensive Care Medicine is paying a lot of attention to that. There are awards that encourage doctors and nurses to do more to provide the best possible for family members and for patients. Everything we will do for family members would be a strength for patients, and everything we will do for patients will be good for family members

 

Source: ESICM #LIVES2020 Opening Ceremony

Image Credit: ESICM


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