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• W. Michael Alberts, MD, MBA, FCCP, President, American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP)
• Charlie Durbin, MD, FCCM, President, Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM)
• Kathleen M. McCauley, RN, PhD, FAAN, FAHA, Past President, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
• John E. Heffner, MD, President, American Thoracic Society (ATS)

WHAT:
Press Conference at ATS 2006: In response to the impending critical care crisis, the Critical Care Workforce Partnership, comprised of the American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), American Thoracic Society (ATS), Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM), and the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN), are working with Senator Richard J. Durbin (D-IL), Assistant Minority Leader, to develop solutions to alleviate the current and future burden imposed by the critical care workforce shortage.

WHEN:
Monday, May 22, 2006
3:00 p.m. PT (6:00 p.m. ET)

WHERE:
American Thoracic Society (ATS) International Conference
The San Diego Convention Center
Room 28C
111 W. Harbor Drive
San Diego, CA 92101

Live Teleconference Dial-In Information: 1 (800) 762-4758
Call Title: Critical Care Workforce at ATS

WHY:
In May 2006, the HHS Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) released a report to Congress titled, The Critical Care Workforce: A Study of the Supply and Demand for Critical Care Physicians that estimates a 129 percent increase in the demand for critical care specialists (intensivists) by the year 2020 due to a rapid growth in our nation's aging population and the escalating demand for critical care services. Because intensivists are more likely to provide care in large hospitals, the shortage is likely to be worse in areas or for populations that already have limited access to physicians.

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Contact: Jennifer Stawarz
jstawarz@chestnet.org
847-498-8306
American College of Chest Physicians
22-May-2006