Table 2. Assessment items determined as essentials (consensus >70% ‘essential’).

	Round 1	Round 2	Round 3
As a minimum standard a physiotherapist can accurately interpret readings from clinical monitoring including:
Body temperature	100
Heart rate	100
Blood pressure	100
Basic ECGs, SpO2/pulse oximetry	100
End tidal carbon dioxide	96.2
Fluid intake and output	100
As a minimum standard a physiotherapist can understand equipment (including recognition of equipment) and understand the implications for physiotherapy of:
Oxygen therapy devices	100
Endotracheal tubes and tracheostomy	92.3
Central venous catheters	88.5
Arterial lines	96.2
Venous blood gas interpretation (including SvO2) Vascath/haemodialysis catheter/continuous veno-venous.	61.5†	88
Intercostal catheters	84.6
Wound drains	80.8
Indwelling urinary catheter	100
Nasogastric tubes	100
As a minimum standard a physiotherapist can accurately interpret findings from laboratory investigations including:
Haemoglobin	100
Platelets, APTT, INR	92.3
White cell count	88.5
Blood glucose levels	100
As a minimum standard a physiotherapist is aware of the actions and implications for physiotherapy of the following medications:
Vasopressors/inotropes	84.6
Basic electrolytes	100
Anti-hypertensives	92.3
Anti-arrhythmia	100
Sedation and neuromuscular paralysing agents	61.5*	92
Bronchodilators	92.3
Mucolytics	69.3*	92
As a minimum standard a physiotherapist can independently interpret findings from imaging investigations (excluding the imaging report) including:
Chest radiographs	96.2
As a minimum standard a physiotherapist can interpret the results from neurological equipment/examinations and functional tests including:
Intra-cranial and cerebral perfusion pressure monitors	96.2
An ability to interpret an assessment of sedation levels (e.g. Ramsey Sedation Scale, Riker, Richmond-Agitation Sedation Scale)	84.6
An ability to perform a neurological examination of motor and sensory functions (e.g. light touch, pain) e.g. ASIA score	100
An ability to interpret a Glasgow Coma Score	100
As a minimum standard a physiotherapist can perform and accurately interpret the results of common respiratory examinations including:
Observation of respiratory rate	100
Patterns of breathing	96.2
Palpate the chest wall	100
Auscultation	100
As a minimum standard a physiotherapist understands the key principles of providing the following differing modes of mechanical/assisted ventilation including:
CPAP	92.3
PEEP/EPAP	96.2
SIMV (volume)/(pressure)	69.2*	92
BiLevel	46.2*	88
PS/IPAP	92.3
As a minimum standard a physiotherapist can assess and interpret mechanical ventilation settings/measurements including:
Respiratory rate	96
Peak inspiratory pressure	92.3
Inspiration: expiration ratio	100
Tidal volume	100
Breath types (spontaneous, mandatory, assisted)	100
The levels of FiO2	100
The levels of PEEP	100
The levels of PS	88.5
As a minimum standard a physiotherapist can:
Assess the effectiveness/quality of a patient’s cough	100
Record and interpret observations from physical clinical examination
As a minimum standard a physiotherapist can interpret indices from blood-gas measurement including:
pH	100
PaCO2	100
PaO2, SpO2, SaO2	100
HCO3	100
Base excess	92.3
P50	65.4†	92
A physiotherapist can complete musculoskeletal and/or functional assessments including:
Manual muscle testing	69.2*	84
Range of motion	84.6
Deep-vein thrombosis screening	100
Peripheral oedema	92.3
As a minimum standard a physiotherapist can understand equipment (including recognition of equipment) and understands the implications for physiotherapy of:
Extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation	69.2*	80
Intracranial pressure monitors and extra-ventricular drains	96.2
As a minimum standard a physiotherapist can accurately interpret readings from clinical monitoring including:
Advanced ECGs	80.8
Nutritional status including feed administration, volume and type	61.5*	100
As a minimum standard a physiotherapist can accurately interpret findings from laboratory investigations including:
Haematocrit	96.2
Creatinine kinase	96.2
Neutrophil count	92.3
Albumin	92.3
Liver function tests	88.5
As a minimum standard a physiotherapist is aware of the actions and implications for physiotherapy of the following medications:
Calcium channel blockers, cerebral diuretics, hypertonic saline	96.2
Nitric oxide	92.3
As a minimum standard a physiotherapist can independently interpret findings from imaging investigations (excluding the imaging report) including:
Skeletal X-rays	96.2
CT – Brain	100
CT – Chest	100
CT – Spine	100
MRI – Brain	100
MRI – Spine	96.2
MRI – Chest	100
Ultrasound – Chest	96.2
As a minimum standard a physiotherapist can interpret the results from neurological equipment/examinations and functional tests including:
Electroencephalograms	88.5
An ability to perform a Glasgow Coma Score	100
An ability to perform an assessment of sedation levels	100
An ability to interpret an assessment of cranial nerve function	96.2
As a minimum standard a physiotherapist understands the key principles of providing the following differing modes of mechanical/assisted ventilation including:
High frequency oscillatory ventilation	88.5
As a minimum standard, a physiotherapist can assess and interpret mechanical ventilation settings/measurements including:
Static and/or dynamic lung compliance measurements	92.4
Upper and lower inflection points of P-V curves	92.4
Maximum inspiratory pressure measurements	92.4
Maximum expiratory pressure measurements	88.5
As a minimum standard a physiotherapist can:
Assess the effectiveness/quality of a patient’s cough Record and interpret observations from physical clinical examination	100
Perform respiratory function tests (e.g. for measurements of FEV1, FVC, PEF)	100
Perform and interpret percussion note	96.2
Measure peak cough flow on or off mechanical ventilation	84.6
Measure peak inspiratory flow rate: Peak Expiratory Flow	80.8
Perform a spontaneous breathing trial	96
Interpret the rapid shallow breathing index	80.8
Perform a swallow assessment	84.6
As a minimum standard a physiotherapist can interpret indices from blood gas measurement including:
PaO2/FiO2 ratio	100
A-a gradient	61.6*	96
Oxygen content (CaO2)	88.5
Venous blood gas interpretation (including SvO2)	69.2*	88
A physiotherapist can complete musculoskeletal and/or functional assessments including:
Dynamometry	88.5
Objective measures of physical function	100
Perform and Interpret Chelsea Critical Care Physical Assessment Tool	92.3
Objective measures of cardiopulmonary exercise tolerance	100
Objective measures of quality of life	84.6
As a minimum standard a physiotherapist can provide the following techniques, including an understanding of indication, contraindications, evidence for technique and progressions:
Positive pressure devices for airway clearance (e.g. AstraPEP, PariPEP, TheraPEP, or oscillating expiratory pressure devices like Acapella, Flutter)	96.2
Periodic/intermittent CPAP (non-invasive via mask) including initiation and titration of NIV/BiPAP – for Type I or Type II respiratory failure, initiation and titration of e.g. COPD exacerbation with hypercapnia	92.3
NIV/BiPAP – intermittent, short term applications during physiotherapy to assist secretion mobilisation techniques or lung recruitment including initiation and titration of assisted coughing - subcostal thrusts for spinal cord injuries	57.7*	84
Ventilator hyperinflation via an endotracheal tube or tracheostomy	46.2*	92
As a minimum standard a physiotherapist can appropriately request/coordinate the following
Titration of inotropes to achieve physiotherapy goals	82.6
As a minimum standard a physiotherapist is aware:
Of key literature that guides evidence-based physiotherapy practice in critical care settings	96.2
As a minimum standard a physiotherapist can accurately interpret readings from clinical monitoring including:
Central venous pressure	100
As a minimum standard a physiotherapist can accurately interpret findings from laboratory investigations including:
Renal function tests e.g. urea and creatinine	100
Sputum cultures	96.2
As a minimum standard a physiotherapist can
Determine the appropriateness of a patient for extubation	82.6
Determine the appropriateness of a patient for tracheostomy decannulation	82.6

ECG = electrocardiogram; SpO₂ = oxygen saturation; SvO₂ = mixed venous oxygen saturation

APTT = activated partial thromboplastin time; INR = international normalised ratio; CPAP = continuous positive airway pressure

PEEP/EPAP = positive end-expiratory pressure; SIMV = synchronised intermittent mandatory ventilation; PS = pressure support

IPAP = inspiratory positive airway pressure; FiO₂ = fraction of inspired oxygen; PaCO₂ = partial pressure of CO₂

PaO₂ = partial pressure of O₂; HCO₃ = bicarbonate; P₅₀ = oxygen tension at which haemoglobin is 50% saturated

CT = computed tomography; MRI = magnetic resonance imaging; FEV1 = forced expiratory volume in one second

FVC = forced vital capacity; PEF = peak expiratory flow

*Consensus not reached (>70%) after considering the scored of ‘unsure’

^†Consensus not reached (>70%)