Course Specifications For Post Graduate Certificate In Austere Critical Care
ACC701 - Critical Care Basics: Concepts, Interventions
This module provides the knowledge of complex pathophysiology which the assessment and management of the critically ill patients are based on.
Content areas include: concepts of tissue oxygenation; organ perfusion; breathing and oxygenation; circulation; regulation of metabolic status and homeostasis; regulated and dysregulated immune responses.
The module will build a strong foundation for further clinical studies in critical care.
- Discuss the pathophysiological processes in the background of critical illness, the common pathways which deteriorate to death unless appropriate critical care interventions.
- Predict the clinical module of a critically ill patient with and without interventions by describing the interactions of various physiological systems and their malfunction.
- Create a treatment plan and prioritise the goals for necessary critical care interventions which targets the malfunctioning physiological processes with a degree of autonomy
- Acquire the theoretic knowledge which serves as a solid background to undertake further critical care studies with confidence.
- Discuss the ability to plan, execute, analyse and reflect upon the management of patients with critical non-traumatic medical emergency according to current medical evidence and current best practice whilst working in resource-limited environments.
- Build on a foundational knowledge of the cellular, tissue and organ level physiology and their interactions.
- Discuss and describe the interactions of physiological systems and their common pathway leading to cellular and organ dysfunction.
- Learn to create plans for critical care interventions and prioritise them based on the pathophysiology and the interacting processes.
- Build confidence in further critical care studies to deal with the rapidly deteriorating critically ill patients by being able to discuss and describe the background.
- Learn the legal requirements of the Austere Critical Care Practice.
- Demonstrate the ability to prioritise the needs of critical care interventions based on physiological needs.
- Demonstrate the ability to assess the critical casualty using the skills and knowledge found in this module.
- Demonstrate the ability to create plans for critical care interventions and prioritise them based on the pathophysiology of the interacting processes.
- Discuss and describe the metabolic needs and pathways in the cellular, tissue and organ level.
- Discuss and describe the components of tissue oxygenation and able to interpret it within the clinical concepts.
- Discuss and describe the concepts of gas exchange, oxygen transport, oxygen demand and extraction.
- Discuss and describe the physiological regulatory mechanisms which maintain homeostasis.
- Discuss and describe the concept of organ perfusion, organ function and dysfunction; including organ-specific considerations for the heart, brain, kidneys and the intestines.
- Discuss and describe the normal and dysregulated immune response and systemic immune response syndrome.
- Discuss and describe the interactions which leads to a common pathway or organ damage and cell death.
250 Hours
Online : 100%
This module provides online guided learning under the tutelage of our doctoral level instructors focusing the foundational concepts of providing care for the critical casualty located in remote, austere and resource-limited environments.
Additionally, there are 2 hours of proctored final assessment. There are physician lead case studies with reflective practice essays that must be submitted to our doctoral level tutors. There are periodic online proctored exams that must be passed at 80% or higher.
10 ECTS/ECVETs
ASSESSMENT WEIGHTING
Formative Online Exams: 50%
Summative Essay: 50%
Grades are set from the EU grading scheme:
Scale          Grade Description
80-100%Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Distinction
70-79%Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Merit
55-69%Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Pass
45-54%Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Compensated Pass
0-34%Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Lower Fail
Core Reading List
- Critical Care Manual of Clinical Procedures and Competencies, 2013 ISBN 978-1405122528.
- Fundamental Critical Care Support: Resource Limited textbook, 2019 Society of Critical Care Medicine.
Supplementary Reading List
- The beginners guide to Intensive Care: Handbook for Junior doctors and allied professionals. 2018 ISBN 9781138035782.
- Mechanical Ventilation: Physiology and Practice 2018 ISBN:9780190670085.
- Critical Care Medicine: An Algorithmic Approach 2021 ISBN: 9780323696074.
ACC702 - Intensive Care for Resource-limited Environments
This module discusses the knowledge and competencies needed to provide intensive care for the critical casualty located in remote, austere and resource-limited environments.
Content areas include: early assessment and management of the critical casualty, sepsis, acute kidney injury, airway and respiratory emergencies, advanced techniques for physical examination of the acute casualty, clinical decision making, communications, pharmacological options for the critical casualty, documentation and assessment-based management.
Additional topics will include managing resource limitations, resource allocation, triage, and ethical implications.
This module provides online guided learning under the tutelage of our doctoral level instructors focusing on the foundational concepts of providing care for the critical casualty located in remote, austere and resource-limited environments. Additionally, there are 2 hours of proctored final assessment. There are physician lead case studies with reflective practice essays that must be submitted to our doctoral level tutors. There are periodic online proctored exams that must be passed at 80% or higher.
- The delegate will describe how to manage medical emergencies independently that require problem-solving techniques where there are many factors, some of which interact and lead to unpredictable outcomes.
- The delegate will discuss and show competencies in managing the critical casualty with limited equipment and resources.
- The delegate will describe a comprehensive internalised personal world view by utilising the Gibbs reflective model for reflecting on past performance.
- The delegate will discuss how to determine the need for and to undertake further emergency medical studies.
- The delegate will discuss the ability to critically review new knowledge and scientific literature, and discuss its implication on current practice, both on the individual provider- and system level.
- The delegate will build on their foundational knowledge of the assessment and management of the critical casualty and develop advanced concepts in medical treatment for acute casualties found in remote and austere environments.
- The delegate will develop strategic and creative responses in researching solutions to well defined concrete and abstract problems.
- The delegate will describe how to make judgements based on knowledge of relevant social and ethical issues surrounding patient assessment, trauma assessment and medical assessment including the treatments for medical emergencies found in resource-limited environments.
- The delegate will discuss advanced textbooks that will lead to further academic medical learning and will research solutions to abstract medical problems.
- The delegate will discuss the assessment skills needed for the treatment of the burned casualty, sepsis, fever in the tropics, diarrhoeal emergencies and other aspects of treating the critical casualty.
- The delegate will formulate practical and theoretical responses to abstract and concrete medical problems and makes judgements on social and ethical issues pertaining to the medical casualty.
- The delegate shows responsibility for the reflective and efficient management of medical emergencies within agreed timeframes.
- The delegate will demonstrate the assessment and management of the critical casualty located in resource-limited environments.
- The delegate will demonstrate the ability to improvise locally procured equipment into usable medical supplies.
- The delegate will demonstrate the use of intensive care equipment that can be used in a resource-limited environment.
- The delegate will demonstrate the safe and efficient setup and use of complex critical care monitoring systems, evaluate its data and respond to alarms appropriately.
- Discuss the assessment and treatment of the respiratory, cardiovascular and neurological acute patient specifically for the casualty located in remote, austere and resource-limited environments.
- Discuss the use of the medical equipment found in a resource- limited Intensive Care Unit.
- Discuss the advanced concepts of blood gas analysis.
- Perform ventilator setup and management for the critical casualty.
- Demonstration the use of all airway adjuncts specifically for the casualty located in remote, austere and resource-limited environments.
- Discuss the concepts found in the assessment and management of the critical casualty in resource-limited environments.
- Discuss how to stop catastrophic and non-catastrophic bleeding.
- Discuss the knowledge and use of the pulse oximeter, bedside point- of-care testing, capnograph and other haemodynamic monitoring equipment specifically for the casualty located in remote, austere and resource-limited environments.
- Discuss the knowledge and administration of vasoactive and other critical care drugs specifically for the casualty located in remote, austere and resource-limited environments.
250 Hours
Online : 100%
This module provides online guided learning under the tutelage of our doctoral level instructors focusing on the foundational concepts of providing care for the critical casualty located in remote, austere and resource-limited environments.
Additionally, there are 2 hours of proctored final assessment. There are physician lead case studies with reflective practice essays that must be submitted to our doctoral level tutors. There are periodic online proctored exams that must be passed at 80% or higher.
10 ECTS/ECVETs
Formative Assessment: Online quizzes that must be passed at 70% or higher. There is an online entrance exam and an online final written exam.
Summative Essay (3,000 words): A critical reflection on the candidates developed understanding of the lessons learned during the online
module.
ASSESSMENT WEIGHTING
Formative Online Exams: 50%
Summative Essay: 50%
Online Exams: 50%
Reflective Practice Essay: 50%
Grades are set from the EU grading scheme:
Scale          Grade Description
80-100%Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Distinction
70-79%Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Merit
55-69%Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Pass
45-54%Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Compensated Pass
0-34%Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Lower Fail
Core Reading List
- Fundamental Critical Care Support: Resource Limited textbook, 2019.
- Society of Critical Care Medicine.
Field Guide for Remote Practitioners by CoROM, 2nd edit. 2020 ISBN 9789995791308. - The Beginners Guide to Intensive Care: Handbook for Junior doctors and allied professionals. 2018 ISBN 9781138035782.
Supplementary Reading List
- Critical Care Nursing in Resource Limited Environments, 2019 ISBN 1138093513
- Care of the Critically Ill Patient in the Tropics and Sub-Tropics ISBN 0333537998
- Providing Care in Extreme Environments, 2016 ISBN 9780071847629
- Manual of Austere and Prehospital Ultrasound, 2021 ISBN 9783030642877
ACC706 Intensive Care in Tropical Environments
This module aims to introduce the concepts of the practice of intensive care medicine specifically for tropical medicine ailments and diseases as well as providing critical care in remote and austere conditions. It begins with the top ten infectious diseases found in tropical regions and expands to cover various treatments and procedures that are needed whilst working in tropical environments.
- The delegate will discuss and describe the management of tropical infectious diseases as an independent practitioner using resources available in an austere clinical environment.
- The delegate will describe how to manage tropical diseases, including the medical team whilst reviewing performance of self and others.
- The delegate will describe a comprehensive internalised personal world view by utilising the Gibbs reflective model for reflecting on past performance.
- The delegate will describe the need for and undertake further emergency medical studies.
- The delegate will critically appraise the needs and challenges, indications and contraindications of tropical diseases and the pharmacological interventions for the casualty located in resource-limited environments.
- The delegate will describe the structured and systematic clinical assessment of a critically ill patient who has a disease modality found in tropical disease areas.
- The delegate will discuss the interpretation of clinical diagnostic test results and be able to diagnose the particular tropical disease using this outcome.
- The delegate will discuss the necessity to work as a team with technical and non-technical skills and utilise the limited resources effectively.
- The delegate will discuss and describe relevant social and ethical issues surrounding tropical diseases including the treatments for infectious diseases found in resource-limited environments.
- The delegate will demonstrate the practical context of critical care monitoring as it pertains to tropical diseases and limitations and set up conditions specifically for the casualty located in remote, austere and resource-limited environments.
- The delegate will demonstrate the skills to recognise emergencies found in tropical areas and formulate a plan to respond in an appropriately prioritised order.
- The delegate will be able to assess and treat Tropical Diseases using Rapid Diagnostic Testing (RDT), basic microscope usage including blood smears and complete blood count, recognise the signs and symptoms of the top ten tropical diseases found worldwide.
- The delegate will be able to assess and treat expedition emergencies, infectious diseases and Tropical Diseases found in resource poor environments.
- The delegate will discuss and describe the top ten infectious diseases found in tropical areas.
- The delegate will describe how to assess and treat casualties presenting with tropical ailments and diseases.
- The delegate will discuss the main points of public health, epidemiology and how to conduct scientific research of tropical diseases.
250 Hours
Online : 100%
10 ECTS/ECVETs
Formative Assessment: Online quizzes – Must be passed at 70% or higher. There is an online entrance exam and an online final written exam.
Summative Essay (3,000 words): A critical reflection on the candidates developed understanding of the lessons learned during the online module.
ASSESSMENT WEIGHTING
Formative Online Exams: 50%
Summative Essay: 50%
Grades are set from the EU grading scheme:
Scale          Grade Description
80-100%Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Distinction
70-79%Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Merit
55-69%Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Pass
45-54%Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Compensated Pass
0-34%Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Lower Fail
Core Reading List
- Fundamental Critical Care Support: Resource Limited textbook, 2019. Society of Critical Care Medicine.
- Field Guide for Remote Practitioners by CoROM, 2nd ed. 2020 ISBN 9789995791308
- Tropical Medicine Notebook ISBN 0198737777
Supplementary Reading List
- Critical Care Nursing in Resource Limited Environments, 2019 ISBN 1138093513
- Providing Care in Extreme Environments, 2016 ISBN 9780071847629
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