Management of Respiratory and Cardiac Emergencies

Target Population: Teams from medical departments and high dependency units. Objectives: By course completion, participants are expected to recognize the signs and symptoms and differential diagnosis of a patient suffering from shortness of breath caused by respiratory or cardiac emergencies; demonstrate the use of various modalities to diagnose the cause for the patients' complaints; identify methods for optimal treatment; and demonstrate knowledge and skills as a team member and team leader.  The course focuses on aspects of crisis resources management and teamwork. Course Description: Training focuses on the work of organic, multi-disciplinary teams of doctors and nurses using full-body physiological mannequins and simulated patients (role playing actors).  The teams alternate between participation in and viewing of realistic medical scenarios complete with sound effects.  A customized audiovisual system and one-way glass enable real-time observation of the scenarios. Viewing of the recorded material allows effective debriefing and constructive feedback to trainees.