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ForwardFundamental Critical Care Support: Pediatrics Course, Grand Junction, CO 2026
Overview
Ensure that you are prepared to save the life of a child by participating in a Fundamental Critical Care Support: Pediatrics (FCCS:P) Course. This 2 day course combines expert-developed lectures with hands-on skill stations to provide healthcare professionals at all levels, including non-intensivists, with the training they need to manage critically ill or injured pediatric patients for the first 24 hours or until appropriate critical care consultation can be arranged. This evidence based curriculum was developed by the Society of Critical Care Medicine.
Please note, this is an in person course only with no virtual option for attendance available.
Target Audience
This course is for interdisciplinary healthcare team members including physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists and EMS professionals.
Learner Outcome
As a result of this session, learners will be able to report new knowledge and intent to change practice in the care of critically ill pediatric patients. Participants will successfully complete a posttest related to the care of critically ill pediatric patients.
Learning Objectives
- Discuss knowledge of the signs and symptoms of an unstable airway and respiratory failure
- Summarize management principles of acute respiratory failure
- Describe the characteristics of different types of breaths and modes of mechanical ventilation (noninvasive and invasive)
- Review the various categories of shock and sepsis, emphasizing early detection and rapid intervention
- Describe the management of children with cardiopulmonary deficiency, including the initial assessment and importance of rapid detection and intervention
- Describe the indications for initiation of mechanical ventilation
- Summarize the diagnosis, pathophysiology, and treatment of children with upper and lower airway disease
- Describe communication process for safe transport of the critically ill child
- Identify anatomic, physiologic, and mechanistic issues in trauma including the ABCDE approach to resuscitation
- Describe the unique anatomic and physiologic differences between pediatric and adult patients to identify critically ill children.
- Review specific management principles and options for common neurologic emergencies
- Discuss basic concepts of maintenance of intravascular fluid homeostasis.
- Review a framework for potential invasive device complications.
- Identify the indications, risk factors, and level of monitoring needed for pediatric patients undergoing procedural sedation and describe the differences among mild, moderate, and deep sedation
- Describe the effects of anesthesia on the patient during postoperative period
- Demonstrate the DIRECT methodology to provide care to a complex patient case using the knowledge and skills obtained during the course
Required Course Preparation
- This course includes a required pre-test and post-test to obtain SCCM certification.
- Approximately 4 weeks before the course, you will receive an email from [email protected] titled "Enrollment in SCCM's LearnICU Classroom". The link allows you access to the FCCS:P e-book, course slides and pre-test.
- You must complete the pre-test prior to attending the course
- If you need assistance logging into the SCCM portal, please contact SCCM customer service at [email protected] or 1-847-827-6888 Monday through Friday between 8am to 5pm central time.
For additional information related to this course contact: [email protected]
Agenda
August 18, 2026 – Day 1 | ||
Time | Activity | |
7:45 - 8:00 a.m. | Sign-In | |
8:00 - 8:15 | Welcome, Course Announcements, and FCCSP Overview | |
| 8:15 - 8:45 | Assessment of the Critically ill Child Objective: Describe the unique anatomic and physiologic differences between pediatric and adult patients to identify critically ill children. | |
8:45 - 9:30 | Airway Management Objective: Discuss knowledge of the signs and symptoms of an unstable airway and respiratory failure. | |
9:30 - 10:15 | Mechanical Ventilation Objectives: Summarize management principles of acute respiratory failure. Describe the characteristics of different types of breaths and modes of mechanical ventilation (noninvasive and invasive). | |
| 10:15 - 10:30 | Break | |
10:30 - 11:15
| Diagnosis and Management of Shock Objective: Review the various categories of shock, emphasizing early detection and rapid intervention. | |
11:15 - 12:15 | Skill Stations | A. Cardiopulmonary Dysfunction Objective: Describe the management of children with cardiopulmonary deficiency, including the initial assessment and importance of rapid detection and intervention B. Mechanical Ventilation Objectives: Describe the indications for initiation of mechanical ventilation. Modify the ventilator prescription in response to patient data. Assemble the equipment and practice noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation. |
| 12:15 - 1:00 p.m. | Lunch | |
1:00 - 2:00 | Repeat Skill Stations | |
2:00 - 2:30 | Diagnosis & Management of the Child with Acute Upper Airway and Lower Airway Disease Objective: Summarize the diagnosis, pathophysiology, and treatment of children with upper and lower airway disease | |
2:30 - 3:00 | Trauma Objective: Identify anatomic, physiologic, and mechanistic issues in trauma. Apply the ABCDE approach to resuscitation. | |
3:00 - 3:15 | Break | |
3:15 - 4:00 | Skill Stations | A. Transport Objectives: Use case-based scenario to discuss factors that influence team composition and mode of transport. Identify problems or complications that can occur during transport. B. Radiology and Invasive Devices Objective: Review a framework for potential device complications. Use case-based scenarios to discuss appropriate assessment and management of patients. |
4:00 - 4:45 | Repeat Skill Stations | |
4:45 - 5:00 | Recap Day 1 | |
5:00 | Adjourn | |
August 19, 2026 – Day 2 | ||
Time | Activity | |
8:00 - 8:15 a.m. | Review of Pretest/Recap Points from Previous Day | |
8:15 - 9:00 | Neurologic Emergencies Objective: Review specific management principles and options for common neurologic emergencies. | |
9:00 - 9:45 | Fluids, Electrolytes, and Metabolic Derangements Objectives: Discuss basic concepts of maintenance of intravascular fluid homeostasis. Discuss common electrolyte disturbances, and their recognition and management. | |
9:45 - 10:00 | Break | |
10:00 - 10:30 | Postoperative Management Objective: Describe the effects of anesthesia on the patient during postoperative period. Recognize and manage common postoperative complications. | |
10:30 - 11:00 | Sedation, Analgesia, and Neuromuscular Blockade Objectives: Identify risks and level of monitoring for procedural sedation. Explain the benefits and side effects of analgesics, sedatives, and neuromuscular agents. | |
11:00 - 11:45 | Skill Stations | A & B. Sedation Objective: Identify the indications, risk factors, and level of monitoring needed for pediatric patients undergoing procedural sedation, and describe the differences among mild, moderate, and deep sedation
Same skill stations running concurrently. |
11:45 - 12:30 p.m. | Lunch | |
12:30 - 1:00 | Pediatric Emergency Preparedness Objectives: Describe the unique features of the pediatric population that make them particularly vulnerable during disasters. | |
1:00 - 1:05 | Break | |
1:05 - 2:05 | Skill Stations | A. Integrative Scenarios Objective: Demonstrate the DIRECT methodology to provide care to a complex patient case using the knowledge and skills obtained during the course. B. Integrative Scenarios Objective: Demonstrate the DIRECT methodology to provide care to a complex patient case using the knowledge and skills obtained during the course. |
2:05 - 3:05 | Repeat Skill Stations | |
3:05 - 3:20 | Recap of Day 2 and Evaluation | |
3:20 | Adjourn | |
The course will take place at St. Mary's Regional Hospital in the Saccomanno Education Center, Conference Room 1.
Faculty and Planning Committee
Lorel Huber, MD
Assistant Professor, Pediatric Critical Care
University of Colorado School of Medicine
Director of Resuscitation and Simulation
Critical Care
Children’s Hospital Colorado
Brian M. Jackson, MD, MA, HEC-C
Associate Professor, Pediatrics-Critical Care
Co-Director, Bioethics and Humanities Trail
University of Colorado School of Medicine
Medical Director of Clinical Ethics
President-Elect of the Medical Staff
Children's One PICU Medical Director
Pediatric Intensivist
Children's Hospital Colorado
Kaia Knutson, MD
Emergency Medicine
St. Mary's Regional Hospital
Kelly Reichert, MS, RN, CCRN
Professional Development Specialist
Professional Development
Children’s Hospital Colorado
Nicki Shonka, MS, RN, NPD-BC, CPN
Clinical Education Outreach Program Director
Professional Development
Children’s Hospital Colorado
Jenn Tuning, MHA, BSN, RN, CEN, CENP
Director of Women's & Children's Services
St. Mary's Regional Hospital
Michael Wittkamp, MD, FAAP
Associate Professor, Pediatrics-Critical Care
University of Colorado School of Medicine
Executive Director, Department of Pediatrics Southern Colorado Faculty
Pediatric Intensivist
Children's Hospital Colorado, Colorado Springs
Disclosures
Planners, faculty and others in control of content (either individually or as a group) have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.
Continuing Education Credit
Registration, attendance, posttest, and submission of the evaluation, including a written response to questions related to any change in practice that you may make as a result of learning that took place at this activity, are required for successful completion and receipt of the certificate of attendance. Claim only those hours you attend.
Nursing
Children’s Hospital Colorado is approved with distinction as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by Colorado Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. This educational activity for 13.75 nursing contact hour(s) is provided by Children’s Hospital Colorado.
EMS
Children’s Hospital Colorado is a State of Colorado recognized EMS Training Group (CO-049) and will provide 13.75 continuing education credit(s) for all pre-hospital providers.
Others
A certificate of attendance will be provided upon completion of this course.
Available Credit
- 13.75 Attendance
- 13.75 Colorado State EMS
- 13.75 NCPD