The European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM) opened its annual congress in Munich with a compelling vision centred on three interconnected themes: care, connect, and change. These principles reflect the society's commitment to advancing intensive care through collaboration, innovation, and a steadfast focus on both patients and professionals.
Care: The Foundation of Everything
Care extends far beyond the patient bedside, speakers emphasised. While patient care remains the cornerstone of intensive care medicine, the ESICM is broadening its focus to encompass families, healthcare teams, and even the environment.
Supporting Families as Partners
The welcome address highlighted the critical role families play in ICU care. Family members are experts in their loved ones, and active family involvement promotes shared decision-making and improves outcomes. The society has made significant progress with research on family outcomes, tools for shared decision-making, and initiatives like "Vital and Voices" that spotlight family involvement. Looking forward, ESICM announced that family-centred care will be a core pillar of its strategy, including developing education on communication strategies and working in partnership with families to inform practices around shared decision-making.
Caring for the Caregivers
The opening ceremony also addressed the mental health crisis among healthcare professionals. With approximately half of ICU healthcare workers experiencing mental health issues, ESICM has engaged in multiple initiatives, including training programmes, webinars, and research to reduce burnout. The importance of psychological safety, communication, and team support in the ICU environment cannot be understated.
Environmental Sustainability
ESICM's commitment to environmental sustainability was also highlighted, demonstrating how simple changes in clinical practice can dramatically reduce carbon footprints. The society has published a Green Paper and launched a new research grant focused on environmental sustainability, recognising that caring for patients must also mean caring for the planet.
Connect: Building a Global Community
Connection emerged as a powerful theme, with ESICM working to strengthen ties with members, patients, and international partners.
Member Engagement
The society has restructured membership fees to promote engagement across age groups and professions, including colleagues from diverse global settings. Each section now has a dedicated board with direct links to leadership, and national representatives serve as crucial bridges between the society and members in each country.
Patient Partnership
A Patient partner delivered a powerful testimony about her ICU experience following septic shock. She emphasised that while technical care is outstanding, the human connection often gets lost in routine and stress. In response to patient advocacy, ESICM announced the creation of a new scientific section on rehabilitation and post-intensive care, signalling the society's commitment to addressing long-term patient needs.
Global Reach
ESICM's global connections continue to expand through partnerships with societies across continents. The society has formalised these efforts through ESICM Global Connection, designed to be more inclusive, representative, and connected to local priorities while maintaining a focus on solidarity in times of crisis.
Change: Shaping the Future
The final theme addressed how intensive care must evolve to meet emerging challenges and opportunities.
Diversity and Inclusion
ESICM demonstrated its commitment to diversity with concrete actions: a woman president-elect, a nurse as secretary, and a dedicated Diversity and Inclusion Group. The NEXT platform, which connects young ICU professionals, has expanded its criteria to include all ICU professionals under 38, not just physicians. The goal of the society is to ensure that every single member has the same opportunities in terms of professional development, career, training, and education, irrespective of gender identity, religion, sexual preferences, or socioeconomic status.
Innovation and Data Science
The welcoming address highlighted ESICM's recognition of data's transformative power, with six data forums held to date and a second Innovation Forum scheduled. The society is endorsing Indicate, an ambitious European collaboration connecting hospitals, researchers, and data experts to harness large-scale data for better care.
Looking Ahead
As LIVES 2025 proceeds, the themes of care, connect, and change will guide discussions, workshops, and presentations. The congress represents not just a gathering of professionals but a celebration of a global community united by one goal: improving patient care through knowledge, collaboration, and innovation.
Source and Image Credit: ESICM Welcoming Ceremony
