USU: Knowledge Skills Assessment (KSA) – Critical Care Medicine Competency, 2022-2025

Program Description

The KSA (Knowledge Skills and Abilities) Clinical Readiness Program is designed to assure the clinical readiness of military medical personnel to provide comprehensive patient care across all role theaters. The goal of the program is to sustain clinical capabilities for expeditionary practice between deployments through routine assessment and focused training opportunities to close any identified gap areas in currency or capability. The metrics for the KSA clinical readiness program include routine knowledge assessment using comprehensive multiple choice exams that cover the breadth and depth of identified performance requirements for each clinical specialty. These performance requirements were identified through a rigorous process that included representatives from the Army, Navy, and Air Force with relevant clinical expertise in each specialty domain and recent deployment experience. These specialists used a consensus approach to establish the required competencies for the expeditionary scope of practice within their respective specialties, and reviewed multiple specialty and military clinical practice guidelines that typify the performance requirements. They identified a performance taxonomy that includes critical performance categories, sub-categories, and specific competencies, with specific performance benchmarks for requisite knowledge determined by consensus and professional practice guidelines. This course addresses the knowledge component of these domain competencies, each of which are delineated in Appendix 3 of the attached document.

Target Audience

This activity provides continuing education for physicians.

This activity is also approved for physicians who are board certified with the American Board of Internal Medicine.

Learning Objectives

  1. Identify the best patient management strategy for specific clinical situations at various role theaters.
  2. Select optimal strategies for patient transport across role theaters.
  3. Determine the best strategies for resource allocation and management in austere care contexts.
  4. Illustrate the best strategy for managing military-specific concerns in the context of patient care (e.g. Live ordinance, detainees, local nationals, care under fire, etc.).
  5. Identify the best strategies for caring for an injured or ill working dog.
  6. Recognize the necessary communication and documentation requirements that must be implemented as part of patient care in deployed settings.
  7. Demonstrate familiarity with the Joint Trauma System reporting and documentation requirements.
  8. Outline priorities of care in burn patients, being cognizant of other life-threatening injuries.
  9. Describe indications to consult the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Burn Center.
  10. Identify the indications and contraindications for the use of tranexamic acid (TXA) and other pharmacologic adjuncts (PCC, rVIIa).
  11. Given a clinical scenario, demonstrate appropriate/judicious utilization of available resources in an austere/resource limited environment.
  12. Describe diagnosis, treatment, and management for malignant hypertension, aortic dissection, reperfusion therapy in acute coronary syndrome, congestive heart failure (inotropes, diuretics), myocarditis/pericarditis and dysrhythmias, among other such conditions.
  13. Identify individuals who require appropriate vaccination following splenectomy (timing of and specific vaccinations).
  14. Identify signs, symptoms, and treatments for acute life threatening electrolyte disturbance.
  15. Demonstrate proper techniques to clear C-spine injuries in obtunded US patients versus host nationals.
  16. Describe appropriate communication prior to transfer of host national patients with traumatic brain injury.
  17. Describe which complications are more common for a pediatric patient on a ventilator.
  18. Describe the team leader role in clearly communicating the importance of infection prevention and control along the continuum of care by using standard precautions, by adhering to guidelines for antibiotic usage, and by providing accurate documentation.
  19. Describe the use of airway adjuncts/alternative airway tools in the management of the difficult airway.
  20. Describe diagnosis, treatment, and management of acute eosinophilic pneumonia.
Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 60.00 ABIM MOC II
  • 60.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™

    DHA, J-7, CEPO is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. 

    DHA, J-7, CEPO designated this Course for a maximum of 60.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  • 60.00 Attendance
  • 60.00 IPCE

    In support of improving patient care, DHA, J-7, CEPO is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the health care team. This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive 60.00 Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credits for learning and change.

Course opens: 
05/10/2022
Course expires: 
08/31/2023

Kevin Chung, M.D., F.C.C.M., F.A.C.P. Presenter has no financial or non-financial relationships to disclose.

Available Credit

  • 60.00 ABIM MOC II
  • 60.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™

    DHA, J-7, CEPO is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. 

    DHA, J-7, CEPO designated this Course for a maximum of 60.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  • 60.00 Attendance
  • 60.00 IPCE

    In support of improving patient care, DHA, J-7, CEPO is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the health care team. This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive 60.00 Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credits for learning and change.

Please login or create an account to take this course.

Accommodations for Learners with Hearing Impairment

Captions and transcripts are available upon request for all CE/CME live events and on-demand courses sponsored by J-7 CEPO.

Live events:
To request real-time, streaming closed captions, please contact CEPO at least three business days before an event begins. If CEPO cannot arrange for live event captioning, then a video recording and transcript of the audio will be provided after the event. 

On-demand "Home Study" courses:
You may request a transcript (a written account of a pre-recorded video’s audio content) upon registering for a CEPO Home Study course. 

CEPO can typically deliver a transcript within ten business days.

For more information, or to submit a request, please contact CEPO at [email protected].