FCCS Fourth Edition Unveiled

The fourth edition of the Fundamental Critical Care Support (FCCS) textbook will be available in late August. The entire FCCS program has been updated, enhanced and expanded to ensure it provides the most up to date information on caring for the critically ill or injured patient. The FCCS program continues to grow within the United States and internationally as a tool to train non-intensivists, house staff and nurses or other critical care practitioners how to manage these patients effectively. The release of the fourth edition marks an exciting chapter in the success of FCCS.

A Look at What’s New

Expanded and Revised Chapters
All fourth edition chapters have been carefully reviewed and revised, expanded or conceptually reorganized to reflect the most current guidelines and practices. Specific pediatric information has been moved to a new chapter, now titled Critical Care in Infants and Children: The Basics. The most significant updates can be found in the chapters Issues of Blood Flow and Tissue Oxygenation, Diagnosis and Management of Shock, and Acute Coronary Syndromes.

• Issues of Blood Flow and Tissue Oxygenation – Formerly titled Basic Hemodynamic Monitoring in the third edition, this section has been refocused. It includes discussions on determinants of oxygen balance and techniques for monitoring determinants of oxygen balance (noninvasive and invasive). Due to the  popular demand from FCCS users, a section on acid-base disorders also has been added.
• Diagnosis and Management of Shock - This chapter uses the principles outlined in the chapter above to identify different types of shock and to select appropriate therapy. Studies on the use of fluid types and early resuscitation have been incorporated into the recommendations.
• Acute Coronary Syndromes - The management of acute coronary syndromes changes rapidly, and the new edition addresses the most current recommendations for management of ST-elevation and non-STelevation. Information on myocardial infarction also has been updated.

New Appendices
The fourth edition includes three all-new appendices, added to reflect today’s relevant and current critical care topics.
• Simulation in FCCS - discusses the basic principles of simulation as a teaching/learning strategy and offers suggestions for incorporating simulation into an FCCS course.
• Medical Emergency Teams - provides models for creating and organizing a medical emergency team (MET) and includes a MET scoring system.
• Airway Adjuncts – discusses indications for, and insertion of, various airway adjuncts, including the laryngeal mask airway and the esophageal tracheal double-lumen airway device.

New User-Friendly Format
Several features and formatting techniques have been added to make the fourth edition easier to use, navigate and understand. The new format maximizes learning and flow of information. Each chapter and major section begins with learning objectives and a case study that focus attention on key clinical findings and patient presentation. Information boxes in the margins reinforce essential principles and emphasize clinical cautions, and many sections offer additional electronic resources for suggested reading.

Pre- and Post-Tests
New pre- and post-tests will validate students’ growth through participation in a fourth edition FCCS course. Tests have been restructured and revised to reflect the new course content.

Online Administrative Binder
The administrative binder, which contains the policies, processes and tools needed to offer a successful course, now is available exclusively online to those who have purchased a course license. Content has been streamlined and reorganized to ensure this binder remains a key resource when planning a course.

New Instructor Course Curriculum and Instructor Criteria
The FCCS Instructor Course curriculum has been revamped to include more clearly defined requirements for potential instructors. The new instructor curriculum incorporates a more structured and formal approach to adult learning concepts with a focus on teaching strategies. The curriculum includes overviews of the new course content and guides for its development, review and implementation. FCCS instructor eligibility requirements also have been revised, and physician’s assistants now may apply for full instructor status. The new instructor course will debut at the 37th Critical Care Congress.

Visit the FCCS section of www.sccm.org for more information.

To purchase a course license, contact SCCM’s hospital relations manager Kenneth Klarich at kklarich@sccm.org or +1 847 493-6401.