Central venous access remains foundational to the delivery of critical care, yet the techniques used for central line insertion have evolved minimally since the introduction of the Seldinger method more than 70 years ago. This relative stagnation persists despite increasing patient complexity and heightened expectations for procedural safety, efficiency, and reliability.

This episode of the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) Podcast examines how procedural variability and fragmented workflows continue to contribute to risk during central venous catheter insertion in critically ill patients. It also considers the growing need to reassess long-standing approaches that may no longer align with the demands of contemporary ICU practice. Host Kyle B. Enfield, MD, speaks with Adnan Javed, MD, about emerging insertion techniques and integrated technologies designed to simplify procedural steps, reduce variability, and support more consistent performance at the bedside.

Through a focused exploration of innovation in procedural design, this discussion highlights how streamlined, integrated approaches may enhance clinician performance, improve safety, and advance the standard of care in high-acuity environments. This episode provides a critical perspective on the future of central venous access and the role of innovation in transforming a commonly performed, yet high-stakes, procedure.

This episode is sponsored by BD.

Learning Objectives

1. Describe how procedural complexity and workflow variability contribute to risk during central venous catheter insertion in critically ill patients
2. Understand the potential of emerging insertion techniques and integrated, simplified approaches to improve procedural safety, consistency, and clinician performance

Resource referenced in this episode:

1. Pronovost P, Needham D, Berenholtz S, et al. An Intervention to Decrease Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infections in the ICU. N Engl J Med. 2006;355(26):2725-2732. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa061115

Effective transitions of care are vital, particularly for children who have spent months in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). In this episode of the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) Podcast, host Maureen A. Madden, DNP, RN, CPNP-AC, CCRN, FCCM, speaks with Philip D. Cohen, MD, MSc, about his article, “Non-Emergent Neonatal ICU-to-PICU Transfers in the United States: Cross-Sectional Survey of Neonatologists and Pediatric Intensivists,” published in the May 2026 issue of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine.

Drawing on responses from neonatologists and pediatric intensivists across the United States, Dr. Cohen examines the challenges associated with transferring patients from the NICU to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) for ongoing care. Although these transfers occur infrequently, with a median of only five to six non-emergent transfers annually per institution, they often involve children with prolonged hospitalizations, significant medical complexity, and deeply established relationships with NICU care teams.

Survey findings suggest broad agreement among neonatologists and pediatric intensivists that standardized protocols are needed and that structured approaches improve the effectiveness of transfers. Key themes include multidisciplinary handoffs, earlier identification of transfer candidates, family-centered communication, and greater collaboration between NICU and PICU teams before and after transfer.

Dr. Cohen also explores opportunities for implementation science to advance this work, emphasizing the importance of incorporating perspectives from parents and caregivers, nurses, and advanced practice providers. This discussion will educate and inspire pediatric critical care teams seeking to improve continuity of care through adaptable, evidence-informed frameworks.

Resources referenced in this episode:

• Cohen PD, Boss RD, McKinney RL, Kudchadkar SR. Non-Emergent Neonatal ICU-to-PICU Transfers in the United States: Cross-Sectional Survey of Neonatologists and Pediatric Intensivists. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2026;27(5):568-574.

• Cohen PD, Boss RD, Stockwell DC, et al. Perspectives on non-emergent neonatal intensive care unit to pediatric intensive care unit care transfers in the United States. World J Crit Care Med. 2024;13(4):97145.

Sepsis management has traditionally focused on timely antibiotic treatment, hemodynamic support, and source control, but emerging evidence suggests that outcomes may be shaped long before patients reach the ICU. In this episode of the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) Podcast, host Diane C. McLaughlin, DNP, AGACNP-BC, CCRN, FCCM, speaks with Sayed Abdulmotaleb Almoosawy, MBChB (Hons), about his article “The Association Between Socioeconomic Position and Mortality in Patients With Sepsis and Septic Shock—A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis,” published in the April 2026 issue of Critical Care Medicine.

Drawing on 13 observational studies that encompassed nearly 4 million patients, the analysis evaluates how factors such as insurance status, income, education, and neighborhood deprivation relate to short-term mortality outcomes. The findings reveal a consistent association between lower socioeconomic position and increased mortality, with lack of private insurance demonstrating the strongest signal—likely reflecting barriers to timely access to care and delayed presentation.

This episode challenges clinicians and researchers alike to recognize the link between socioeconomic disadvantages and worse sepsis outcomes, highlighting the need to collect equity-relevant data and reduce gaps in care to improve survival for critically ill patients.

Resources referenced in this episode:

• Almoosawy SA, Fernando SM, Rochwerg B, et al. The association between socioeconomic position and mortality in patients with sepsis and septic shock—a systematic review and meta-analysis. Crit Care Med. 2026;54(4):692-700.

• Prescott HC, Antonelli M, Alhazzani W, et al. Surviving Sepsis Campaign: International Guidelines for Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock 2026. Crit Care Med. 2026;54(4):725-812.