Certification: Surgical Critical Care (SCC)
142 E. Ontario St. Chicago, IL 60611-2864
Surgical critical care (SCC) is a specialty of surgery and a primary component of general surgery related to the care of patients with acute, life-threatening or potentially life-threatening surgical conditions. SCC not only incorporates knowledge and skills of nonoperative techniques for supportive care for critically ill patients but also a broad understanding of the relationship between critical surgical illness and surgical procedures. Although much of this knowledge and skills is common to critical care specialists from a variety of medical disciplines, the diplomate in surgical critical care has specialized expertise relating both to the physiologic responses to tissue injury from trauma, burns, operation, infections, acute inflammation, or ischemia and to the ways these responses interact with other disease processes.
Specialists in SCC possess advanced knowledge and skills that enable them to provide comprehensive care to critically ill patients from all surgical specialties and in all age groups. Care for the critically ill surgical patient may take place in a variety of settings, e.g. pre-hospital situations, the emergency department, the operating room, and intensive care units. Because the care of such patients involves skill in a number of disciplines, as well as an understanding of surgery, the specialist in surgical critical care must have a broad knowledge base and expertise concerning the biology of the critically ill surgical patient and the support of organ system function. They should be capable of providing leadership within their health care organizations regarding the needs of critically ill surgical patients and the administration of critical care units. They also should be able to teach others and conduct research in the field.
Specialists in SCC possess advanced knowledge and skills that enable them to provide comprehensive care to critically ill patients from all surgical specialties and in all age groups. Care for the critically ill surgical patient may take place in a variety of settings, e.g. pre-hospital situations, the emergency department, the operating room, and intensive care units. Because the care of such patients involves skill in a number of disciplines, as well as an understanding of surgery, the specialist in surgical critical care must have a broad knowledge base and expertise concerning the biology of the critically ill surgical patient and the support of organ system function. They should be capable of providing leadership within their health care organizations regarding the needs of critically ill surgical patients and the administration of critical care units. They also should be able to teach others and conduct research in the field.
- More than two years of education or training after high school required?
- Yes
- More than two years of work experience required?
- Yes
- Oral or Written Exam Required?
- Yes
- Renewal Required?
- Every 10 Year(s)
- Renew through Continuing Educational Units(CEU)?
- Yes
- Renew through Re-Examination?
- Yes
- Does applicant have choice of at least two options from above for renewal (CEU, CPD, or exam)?
- No
Specialty
The certification corresponds to a specialty within a recognized occupation. For example, Oncology Nurse and Pediatric Nurse are specialties within the nursing field, so Certified Oncology Nurse and Certified Pediatric Nurse would be classified as specialty certifications.
- This certification is related to military occupational specialties.