Rehabilitation & PICS
The Rehabilitation & PICS section is led by Stefan Schaller.
WhatsApp Community
If you want to stay up to date about everything happening within the Rehabilitation & PICS section, join the WhatsApp Community here.
Please contact the Section Chair (2025-2027: Stefan Schaller, +43 1 40400-41020) with any questions related to the Section.
History
The Section Rehabilitation & PICS (PICS = Post Intensive Care Syndrome) was applied in Summer 2025 by Prof. Stefan Schaller and approved by the Executive Committee and the Council on 26 October 2025.
Activities & Focus Areas
The Section meets regularly to develop, support, and share scientific and educational initiatives, including: multicentre research on ICU-acquired weakness, cognitive and emotional sequelae, frailty, and long-term functional outcomes; implementation frameworks for early mobilisation in the ICU; long-term follow-up and survivorship programmes (including digital health); development and harmonisation of standardised outcome measures and core datasets for recovery and PICS/PICS-F research; and contribution to ESICM educational activities throughout the year and at LIVES.
Resources
Current Section Projects
ERUPT Study
Early Rehabilitation Practices in the ICU
A multinational, prospective observational study characterising mobilisation practices (including “dose”) and associations with patient outcomes across >200 ICUs and >6,000 patients endorsed by ESICM.
- ESICM project page: Ongoing Projects – Endorsed: ERUPT
- Official study site: erupt-study.eu (news & participation information)
Global Advocacy for a Specific ICD Code for PICS
The Section will support a formal international effort to establish a dedicated ICD category for Post-Intensive Care Syndrome within ICD-11, enabling consistent case identification, reimbursement alignment, and health-system planning. This includes alignment with national initiatives (e.g., proposals in ICD-10-GM) and support from professional bodies that have called for PICS coding solutions.
Patient & Family Engagement
We will actively support ESICM’s project for patient & family engagement
Useful links
- Functional measurements: https://www.improvelto.com/
- Mobilization Network: https://mobilization-network.org/category/icu-care/
- Resources of the ICU Rehab Network: https://icurehabnetwork.org/resources/