Critical Care Data Dictionary

Critical Care Data Dictionary

Standardize clinical data collection to advance research and improve patient outcomes.

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Discovery, the Critical Care Research Network, from the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) recognizes the need for standardized data in advancing research and improving patient outcomes in critical care. An article published in the May 2025 issue of Critical Care Medicine describes the development of the Critical Care Data Dictionary (C2D2). 

The C2D2 is a free standardized set of essential definitions used to consistently document and report critical care research data across healthcare systems. It defines key variables in critical care research, including patient demographics, vital signs, treatments, and outcomes.

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Why Use the C2D2?

  • Consistency across studies: By providing standardized definitions for key clinical variables, the C2D2 enables researchers to compare data across multiple studies and centers, ensuring consistent findings.
  • Improved data quality: The adoption of standardized definitions and data collection protocols enhances the accuracy and reliability of research findings, providing a strong foundation for evidence-based practices in critical care.
  • Advancing scientific research: Standardized data collection supports the identification of patterns, trends, and associations in critical care, leading to new insights that can guide clinical practice and improve patient outcomes.
 

 

Critical Care Data Dictionary Toolkit 

Get the C2D2 and case report forms designed to facilitate the collection of standardized data in a clinical setting. These forms ensure that researchers consistently capture all necessary variables, which is vital for high-quality, comparable research.

How to Use the Toolkit

  1. Download the C2D2 and case report forms.
  2. Review and implement the data definitions. Familiarize yourself with the data definitions outlined in the C2D2.
  3. Utilize the case report forms. The case report forms are designed to facilitate the collection of standardized data in a clinical setting.
  4. Foster collaboration across studies. The standardized nature of the C2D2 encourages collaboration among researchers across different institutions and research studies.

Complete the form below to download.

 

 

Pilot Projects for Implementing the Critical Care Data Dictionary

SCCM’s Discovery Data Science Campaign has put out a request for proposals (RFP) for pilot projects to implement and validate the C2D2.

This funding opportunity aims to support innovative, multi-institutional projects that integrate the C2D2 into scalable, automated pipelines for extracting, harmonizing, and analyzing critical care data. Multidisciplinary teams can submit proposals for projects to be funded up to $250,000 and help advance the use of standardized data to improve patient outcomes in critical care.

Submit Your Proposal by June 20, 2025

Download the RFP Overview
Download the RFP Checklist

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