DrugTheGuide
Conference Feb 17–20, 2027 · Austin, TX

SCP Annual Meeting 2027

SCP Annual Meeting 2027 — the premier gathering for critical care pharmacists covering ICU pharmacotherapy, CRRT dosing, sepsis pharmacology, neurocritical care, vasopressors, and sedation/analgesia protocols.

Official site ↗ All events

About SCP and Critical Care Pharmacy

The Society of Critical Care Pharmacists (SCP) ↗ is the only US professional organisation dedicated exclusively to critical care pharmacy. SCP members practice in medical, surgical, cardiac, neurocritical, and paediatric ICUs across the country, serving as medication safety experts on multidisciplinary teams alongside physicians, nurses, and respiratory therapists.

The annual meeting is the field's flagship education event, offering ACPE-accredited continuing pharmacy education (CPE) across tracks in pharmacokinetics, antimicrobial stewardship, cardiothoracic pharmacotherapy, neurocritical care, and clinical research. SCP partners closely with the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) ↗ and co-develops guidelines including the landmark Surviving Sepsis Campaign ↗.

2027 Scientific Tracks

PK/PD & Model-Informed Dosing

Vancomycin AUC-guided dosing, beta-lactam continuous/extended infusion, MIPD platforms, Bayesian dose optimisation in ICU patients with altered PK.

Sepsis & Infectious Diseases

Surviving Sepsis Campaign 2025 updates, source control pharmacotherapy, combination vs monotherapy in gram-negative sepsis, antifungal dosing in critical illness.

Vasopressor & Haemodynamic Pharmacology

Norepinephrine vs vasopressin for distributive shock, angiotensin II place in therapy, inotrope selection (dobutamine, milrinone), vasopressor weaning strategies.

Neurocritical Care Pharmacotherapy

Status epilepticus treatment algorithms, ICP management pharmacology (hypertonic saline vs mannitol), reversal of antithrombotic agents, post-cardiac arrest care.

Sedation, Analgesia & Delirium

PADIS bundle implementation, propofol vs dexmedetomidine in long-term ICU sedation, opioid minimisation strategies, delirium prevention pharmacology.

CRRT Drug Dosing Workshop

Practical CRRT dosing principles for aminoglycosides, vancomycin, piperacillin-tazobactam, and antifungals — effluent rate adjustments, SLED vs iHD dosing differences.

PK Alterations in Critical Illness

Critical illness profoundly alters pharmacokinetics. Clinicians cannot rely on standard population PK parameters for ICU patients. Key changes:

Parameter Direction in Critical Illness Mechanism Drug Example
Vd (hydrophilic) ↑ (often 2–4×) Fluid resuscitation, capillary leak, third-spacing Vancomycin, aminoglycosides
Protein binding ↓ Hypoalbuminaemia, displacement by fatty acids Phenytoin, valproate, warfarin
Renal clearance ↑ or ↓ ARC in early sepsis; AKI in late/severe Meropenem, piperacillin
Hepatic clearance ↓ Reduced hepatic blood flow, CYP downregulation Midazolam, propofol infusion syndrome
GI absorption ↓ or absent Reduced gut motility, enteral feeding interactions Oral antibiotics, antifungals

Sources: Roberts et al. Crit Care 2013 ↗ · NCBI Critical Care Pharmacotherapy ↗

Frequently asked questions

What is the Society of Critical Care Pharmacists (SCP)?
The Society of Critical Care Pharmacists (SCP) ↗ is the US professional organisation dedicated exclusively to critical care pharmacy practice. It advocates for pharmacist integration into multidisciplinary ICU teams, develops clinical resources (including the Critical Care Pharmacy Practice Survey), and runs the annual SCP Annual Meeting. Membership includes clinical pharmacists, residents, and students. SCP partners with the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) ↗ on joint guidelines.
What pharmacokinetic topics are typically covered at SCP?
SCP sessions typically cover: TDM and model-informed precision dosing (MIPD) for vancomycin (AUC/MIC-guided), CRRT drug dosing ↗, beta-lactam continuous infusion (target T>MIC), augmented renal clearance, and PK alterations in critical illness (↑Vd from fluid resuscitation, ↓protein binding in hypoalbuminaemia, ↓GI absorption). See the NCBI critical care pharmacotherapy resource ↗ for background reading.
What is the BCPS vs BCCCP distinction?
BCCCP (Board Certified Critical Care Pharmacist) ↗ is the specialty credential from the Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) ↗ for critical care pharmacists. It requires either a PGY-2 critical care residency or ≥4 years of critical care practice, plus examination. BCPS (Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist) is broader and does not require critical care focus. The SCP Annual Meeting offers ACPE-accredited CPE sessions aligned with the BCCCP examination blueprint.
How does fluid status in critical illness affect drug dosing?
Fluid resuscitation expands the volume of distribution (Vd) ↗ for hydrophilic drugs (aminoglycosides, vancomycin, beta-lactams), lowering peak concentrations — higher loading doses may be needed. Hypoalbuminaemia (common in sepsis, burns, liver failure) reduces protein binding of highly bound drugs, increasing free drug fraction — particularly important for phenytoin ↗ and valproate where corrected levels should be used. See Roberts et al. Crit Care 2013 ↗ for a full review of ICU PK alterations.
What are the key sessions at SCP 2027?
The SCP 2027 programme covers: vasopressor pharmacology and titration (norepinephrine, vasopressin, angiotensin II); sepsis bundle pharmacotherapy aligned with the Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines ↗; antimicrobial stewardship in the ICU; sedation/analgesia per PADIS guidelines ↗; neurocritical care pharmacology; and CRRT drug dosing workshops. ACPE-accredited CPE credit is available for all sessions.