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PD5009: ABERDEEN ECMO MANAGEMENT COURSE (2022-2023)

Last modified: 31 Jul 2023 11:19


Course Overview

Adult Respiratory Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) is a highly complex supportive therapy used for critically ill patients where other forms of heart or lung support have failed. Management of such patients is highly skilled and technically complex. This course provides both the knowledge and skills for students to gain an in depth understanding of the challenges involved with respiratory ECMO to enable clinical reasoning and decision making.

Course Details

Study Type Postgraduate Level 5
Term First Term Credit Points 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits)
Campus Aberdeen Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Mrs Helen Gray

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • Any Postgraduate Programme (Studied)

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

None.

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

This course is aimed at Medical, Nursing and Allied Health Professionals who are or plan to be directly involved in the support of critically ill patients on respiratory ECMO. Theoretical aspects of the course include related respiratory and cardiovascular anatomy and physiology, understanding of underlying disease processes and changes introduced by an extracorporeal circuit. Practical components will provide students with the daily ECMO management skills and the ability to deal with common emergencies. Participants will learn about the management of coagulation, management of infection and inflammation, and the pharmacological aspects of ECMO. Components and configuration of the ECMO circuit will be discussed and the processes of cannulation, decannulation and circuit management will be reviewed. Patient review and investigation of common underlying pathologies will be covered. Aspects of daily patient management and goal setting, circuit troubleshooting, and circuit maintenance will be explained. Emergency management of potential complications including using protocols and procedures to reduce this risk will be discussed.

There will also be a significant focus on the practical aspects of ECMO management. Hands on experience of circuit management will be provided with the opportunity to learn circuit maintenance, circuit sampling, and component changes, with one-to-one demonstration and practice. In situ simulation will give the opportunity to apply all skills and knowledge in safe and controlled environment. Consideration of the particular issues relating to patient retrieval and transfer will also be covered.

 

A fifty-hour mentored preceptorship will provide direct patient contact and allow further development of knowledge and skills.

 

Assessment is via multiple choice exam, clinical OSCE, and course portfolio. The portfolio will incorporate:

  • Fifty hours of clinical preceptorship within the Critical Care Unit in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
  • Completion of a clinical competency
  • Case discussion – 2000 words (+/- 10%)

 

The preceptorship will be undertaken in the Scottish National ECMO centre in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. It is important to note that it is not possible to predict when ECMO will be required for the support of patients. However, there are cases most months of the year and the care is provided 24 hours a day around the clock. The preceptorship may have to be arranged at relatively short notice and the experience to include shifts at weekends or overnight. There will be a six-month period after the face-to-face taught component, MCQ and OSCE assessment are completed in which the preceptorship should be undertaken. The course portfolio will be completed during the preceptorship.

 

An NHS Grampian honorary contract for the preceptorship period will be arranged for candidates who are not employed by that organisation.


Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

Portfolio

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 20
Assessment Weeks 20 Feedback Weeks 23

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Feedback

Includes 50-hour clinical preceptorship and completion of competency document. Feedback within academic regulations of 3 weeks.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Class Test - Multiple Choice Questions

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 30
Assessment Weeks 12 Feedback Weeks 12

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Feedback

MCQ assessment of 40 questions in 1.5 hours. Feedback within academic regulations of 3 weeks.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Portfolio

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 20
Assessment Weeks 20 Feedback Weeks 23

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Feedback

Includes case-based discussion. Feedback within academic regulations of 3 weeks.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

6-station Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 30
Assessment Weeks 12 Feedback Weeks 15

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Feedback

OSCE will comprise of practical aspects of ECMO treatment in 6 stations. Feedback within academic regulations of 3 weeks.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Resit Assessments

Portfolio

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 40
Assessment Weeks 27 Feedback Weeks 30

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Feedback

Resubmission of portfolio including 50-hour clinical preceptorship, completion of competency document, and 2000-word case-based discussion.

Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

6-station OSCE

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 30
Assessment Weeks 13 Feedback Weeks 16

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Feedback
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Class Test - Multiple Choice Questions

Assessment Type Summative Weighting 30
Assessment Weeks 13 Feedback Weeks 16

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Feedback
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
Sorry, we don't have this information available just now. Please check the course guide on MyAberdeen or with the Course Coordinator

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge LevelThinking SkillOutcome
FactualUnderstandIdentify and explain the components of an extracorporeal circuit.
ProceduralEvaluateDemonstrate knowledge, skill and critical judgement in recognising and safely managing patient complications and emergency situations relating to ECMO.
ProceduralAnalyseUnderstand and demonstrate non-technical skills working in a complex critical care clinical environment.
ProceduralAnalyseDemonstrate knowledge, skill and critical judgement in recognising and safely managing patient complications and emergency situations relating to ECMO.
ReflectionEvaluateBe an integral member of an ECMO team having developed the relevant knowledge, skills and experience through the use of high-fidelity simulation in order to be prepared for clinical emergencies.
ProceduralApplyDemonstrate knowledge and skills relating to the daily management and troubleshooting of patients on an extracorporeal circuit.

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