Critical Care Medicine (CCM) is not isolated to the ICU, but rather a mindset of providing optimal care to the critically ill patient. As the “front door” to the Washington University Hospital complex, the Emergency Department welcomes in the critically ill patient on a daily basis. Our patients arrive suffering from blunt or penetrating trauma, respiratory failure, cardiac disease, septic shock, circulatory collapse, and acute neurologic emergencies, to name but a few. We have met the challenge of serving this diverse patient population by creating an educational track for our trainees that focuses on the nuances of critical care medicine, providing a clinical based Trauma Critical Care (TCC) unit in our Emergency Department, and fostering an environment that challenges conventional practice patterns to promote research opportunities. If you have any questions or comments as you explore our website, I encourage you to contact me.

Annual EM/CCM Section Report

Brian T Wessman, MD, FACEP, FCCM

Brian T Wessman, MD, FACEP, FCCM

Division Chief Critical Care Medicine; Associate Professor, Anesthesiology & Emergency Medicine