Fundamental Critical Care Support

The Fundamental Critical Care Support (FCCS) course prepares non-intensivists to manage critically ill patients for the first 24 hours until transfer or appropriate critical care consultation can be arranged. This course can be licensed and brought to an institution in two ways, through a traditional live, instructor-led course, or an online, instructor-led course. Both course methods share the same:

• 17 didactic lectures
• 9 case-based skill stations
• Pre- and posttests
• Companion textbook
• Certificate of successful course completion
• Requirements for successful course completion: attend all didactic sessions, successfully complete all skill stations, and achieve a score of 70% or higher on the posttest

At the completion of the course, learners will be able to:

• Prioritize assessment needs for the critically ill patient.
• Select appropriate diagnostic tests.
• Identify and respond to significant changes in the unstable patient.
• Recognize and initiate management of acute life-threatening conditions.
• Determine the need for expert consultation and/or patient transfer and prepare the practitioner for optimally accomplishing transfer.

Participation in, or completion of, this course does not confer any credential, nor does it satisfy any board certification requirement apart from the continuing education credit if offered for it. This course is not intended to replace, override, or conflict with any licensing or credentialing requirements.

Traditional Licensed Course
A live, instructor-led, two-day course is the traditional method for delivering the FCCS course. Licensed sites arrange for qualified instructors to deliver the 17 lectures and their related skill stations. Complete slide decks with speaker notes as well as administrative materials and forms are provided to each site. Textbooks are shipped to the site prior to the course dates, allowing learners to prepare for the live activity. The site coordinator administers the pre- and posttests and provides that information to SCCM, which prepares and ships certificates of completion to the site coordinator for distribution. The Fundamentals Sales Team can help sites that have not previously held a course find consultants who will lead the development of FCCS on site. The goal is for individual sites to become self-sustaining in their delivery of the FCCS program.

Online Licensed Course
Using the well-established materials from the traditional, instructor-led course, this format allows sites to more efficiently deliver the didactic educational content and creates flexibility for instructors and learners for the delivery of the hands-on skill stations. Online lectures were prepared by leaders in critical care and are delivered by professional presenters. Using a state-of-the-art online learning management system, participants complete the lecture portion of the course over four weeks. Pre- and posttests assure their mastery of the educational content. Course directors and coordinators can monitor the progress of students in real time through their personalized administrative dashboard. Participants who successfully complete of the online licensed course will receive a certificate of completion. In addition, those learners will receive continuing education (CE)/continuing medical education (CME) from SCCM for their completion of the lecture portion of the program.

• Morning lectures followed by afternoon skill stations OR 
• Two to three lectures followed by corresponding skill stations

• Recognition and Assessment of the Seriously Ill Patient
• Airway Management*
• Cardiopulmonary/Cerebral Resuscitation**
• Diagnosis and Management of Acute Respiratory Failure
• Mechanical Ventilation I
• Mechanical Ventilation II
• Monitoring Oxygen Balance and Acid-Base Status
• Diagnosis and Management of Shock
• Neurologic Support
• Basic Trauma and Burn Support***
• Acute Coronary Syndromes​​ **
• Life-Threatening Infections: Diagnosis and Antimicrobial Therapy Selection
• Management of Life-Threatening Electrolyte and Metabolic Disturbances
• Special Considerations

• Critical Care in Pregnancy
• Ethics in Critical Care Medicine
• Critical Care in Infants and Children: The Basics

* May be removed if all participants are ACLS or ATLS certified.
** May be removed if all participants are ACLS certified.
*** May be removed if all participants are ATLS certified.

• Mechanical Ventilation I
• Mechanical Ventilation II
• Noninvasive Positive Pressure Ventilation

• Integrated Sepsis A Scenario
• Integrated Sepsis B Scenario
• Integrated Airway Management and Hypovolemic Shock
• Hypovolemic Shock Scenario
• Integrated Hemorrhagic Shock Scenario
• Integrated Traumatic Brain Injury Scenario
• Recognition and Assessment of the Seriously Ill Patient

You will find suggestions and guidelines below to assist you in planning for your course. The course director, with the assistance of the course coordinator, has responsibility for planning, organizing and conducting the course. These responsibilities include faculty selection, course logistics, obtaining equipment, establishing participant registration processes, and requesting necessary course resources (audiovisual equipment, skills station equipment, catering, etc).

To apply for an FCCS course license and add learners, please visit the Fundamentals portal. A username and password are required to log in. If you do not know this information, please e-mail fccs@sccm.org. Please note that each learner will receive a copy of the book and one certificate will be issued for each learner who successfully completes the course.

1. Choose the type of course (online instructor-led or live instructor-led)
2. Submit an application for a course license and purchase learners through the Fundamentals portal
3. Identify course dates (two days for live instructor-led course or skill station dates/time for online instructor-led course)
4. Submit payment for license and learners to SCCM
5. SCCM forwards course materials to approved course director/course coordinator
6. Conduct course
7. Submit final course data (e.g., attendee test results, certificate requests, faculty listing) to SCCM through the Fundamentals portal
8. SCCM ships Certificates of Successful Completion to the site coordinator for distribution

• Travel expenses for the course consultant and any visiting instructors 
• Honorarium for the course consultant, if requested (The course director may negotiate a lower or pro bono fee schedule; however, nothing higher than $1,000 is advocated by the FCCS Program Committee, SCCM Council, or SCCM Executive Office.)
• Comfortable conference room seating and food and beverage (for breaks and meals)
• Materials for learner and instructor packets
• Equipment for presentation delivery, including an LCD projector
• Equipment for skill stations

Course Requirements

• The first time a site or course director offers a course, course consultant mentorship and approval is required.
• Selection of a course consultant is the site’s responsibility. If problems are encountered, please contact the Fundamentals Sales Team at SCCM headquarters.
• The course consultant may request an honorarium, not to exceed $1,000. The course director may negotiate a lower or pro bono fee schedule; however, nothing higher than $1,000 is advocated by the FCCS Program Committee, the SCCM Council, or the SCCM Executive Office.
• Travel expenses for the course consultant and any visiting lecturers will be reimbursed by the site.
• The course director must be an approved FCCS instructor who has taught in at least two courses during the previous two years.
• The course coordinator will provide administrative, organizational, and other types of support. There are no other requirements for the course coordinator.
• Each course must have two approved instructors (may include the course director). All other lecturers may be clinical experts and associate instructors from a variety of areas and professions (e.g., nurse, physician assistant, respiratory therapist, pharmacist, and other specialist physicians).
• Skill stations may be operated by non-FCCS trained personnel, but integrity must be assured by the course director and the instructors.
• For the initial course to be presented, the course director and course coordinator will work under the direction of a course consultant who will mentor them with organization and administrative issues during setup, and personally evaluate the initial course presentation.

Continuing Education Credits

Online instructor-led course: The online instructor-led format provides 6.5 CME credits for physicians and 6.5 contact hours for nurses and pharmacists.

Live instructor-led course: SCCM does not have direct involvement in the course offering; therefore, SCCM cannot issue CE/CME credit to course participants. If the institution or course sponsor is a national or state accredited CE/CME provider, it may wish to grant CE/CME credit for the course. Typical credit for a two-day course would be 15.75 CME credits for physicians and 15.75 contact hours for nurses and pharmacists.

SCCM is committed to delivering quality educational programs like the FCCS course. Contact the Fundamentals Sales Team by phone at +1 847 827-6869 or by e-mail at fccs@sccm.org to start planning your course.

​​The FCCS course provides an ideal medium for trauma centers and tertiary/quaternary hospitals to outreach to their community partners. It allows regional resource centers to establish and maintain partnerships with community hospitals, increase the level of expertise in community hospitals, teach community partners how to stabilize critically ill patients in preparation for transfer to higher-level care. And best of all, the course has already been vetted by an expert panel and requires minimal work for sponsoring institutions seeking to offer an outreach service.
–Babak Sarani, MD, FACS, FCCM, FCCS, Committee Vice-Chair, George Washington University Hospital and George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington DC, USA

This was the best and most comprehensive critical care course I have ever taken. The instructors were extremely knowledgeable and experts on the topics. This course made me more confident in taking care of critically ill patients. I love having the hands-on skill stations with the ventilator. I highly recommend this course to anyone who cares for critically ill patients.
–Kathleen Jenkins, RN, CHRISTUS St. Vincent Regional Medical Center, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

We believe that FCCS serves as a great opportunity for physicians and nurses who are early in their career to learn the early basics of critical care support. We travel all over the country teaching FCCS, and have yet to have a dissatisfied class of students!
–Konrad Davis, MD, FCCM, Naval Medical Center San Diego, San Diego, California, USA

I'm a true believer in this course and think it makes a big difference in assessments.
- Michelle Lecardo, CCRN, MSN, RN, CNL, Norwalk Hospital, Stratford, Connecticut, USA ​

 Apply and Purchase

Single Course

Shaped by SCCM’s commitment to meeting the needs of each individual customer, the FCCS course pricing structure is designed to be both fair and flexible. SCCM offers two options: Single Course licenses, and Unlimited Annual Course licenses. Pricing options are tiered, based on the country in which the course is held. This allows SCCM to accommodate various ranges in needs and available financial resources.

Please contact the Fundamentals Sales Team at +1 847-827-6869 or via e-mail at fccs@sccm.org with any circumstances that may require special pricing consideration.

Multicourse Discounts

Are you interested in holding multiple courses throughout the year? If you plan to hold four or more courses in one year, you should consider an unlimited license. The Society offers discounted course pricing for volume purchases—the more courses you purchase, the larger the discount. Please contact the Fundamentals Sales Team at +1 847-827-6869 or via e-mail at fccs@sccm.org with any circumstances that may require special pricing consideration

Tiered Pricing

Tiered pricing is based on a country's Gross Domestic Product at Purchasing Power Parity Per Capita​ as reported by the World Bank in its most current World Development Indicators database.

Per Learner Pricing

Licensed institutions will be assessed a fee for each learner, which includes a copy of the current edition of the textbook (print or eBook) and, upon successful completion of the course, a provider certificate.

Translated versions of the FCCS textbook are in development. Please call the Fundamentals Sales Team with any questions at +1 847-827-6869 or via e-mail at fccs@sccm.org.

The FCCS textbook is an integral part of the FCCS learning experience. It is available in print or as an eBook.

The FCCS program has grown enormously since its inception in 1996. This most recent edition is the reference and source for the standardized course composed of 17 lectures and related skill stations. The text is appropriate for primary care physicians, emergency physicians, residents and fellows, physicians' assistants, nurses, and other personnel who care for critically ill and injured patients.

Prepared under the direction of SCCM by an international team of leading multiprofessional critical care educators in anesthesiology, emergency medicine, internal medicine, nursing, pediatrics and surgery, the FCCS textbook covers:

• Recognition and Assessment of the Seriously Ill Patient
• Airway Management
• Cardiopulmonary/Cerebral Resuscitation
• Diagnosis and Management of Acute Respiratory Failure
• Mechanical Ventilation I
• Mechanical Ventilation II
• Monitoring Blood Flow, Oxygenation, and Acid-Base Status
• Diagnosis and Management of Shock
• Neurologic Support
• Basic Trauma and Burn Support
• Acute Coronary Syndromes
• Life-Threatening Infections: Diagnosis and Antimicrobial Therapy Selection
• Management of Life-Threatening Electrolyte and Metabolic Disturbances
• Special Considerations
• Critical Care in Pregnancy
• Ethics in Critical Care Medicine
• Critical Care in Infants and Children: The Basics

Licensed institutions will be assessed a fee for each learner, which includes a copy of the current edition of the textbook (print or eBook) and, upon successful completion of the course, a provider certificate. Additional details are provided on the Pricing tab.

​Self-Directed Fundamental Critical Care Support (FCCS) provides a relaxed learning experience with access to the same didactic sessions found in the live version of the Sixth Edition FCCS course. Learn at your own pace from the comfort and convenience of your home or office and then assess your knowledge through the use of pre- and posttests.