Background

Newly qualified doctors can feel intimidated by the acute presentation of a patient with a life-threatening illness. The Acute Care Day (ACD) Programme was introduced to address this in 2005. Over the past 4 years a series of 6 days have been developed using tutors from key specialties dealing with critically unwell patients. Each day emphasises common presentations of critically unwell patients: Sepsis, Cardiological Emergencies, Major Haemorrhage and Blood Transfusion, Respiratory Emergencies, Peri-operative Problems and Care of the Unconscious patient.

Educational Objectives

• To develop appropriate clinical skills to identify and treat patients with acute life-threatening illnesses.
• To emphasise a logical way for prompt assessment and management.
• To provide a resuscitation framework.
  

Teaching Methods

Each day teaches the entire Medical Student Year. Students rotate through a series of 6 integrated educational sessions using a variety of learning methods. Pre-course reading material provides the essential background knowledge base. This is distributed electronically prior to the day.

Introductory Session: addresses all students, presents objectives and schedule for the day and provides a framework for assessment and resuscitation. Video clips are used for illustration.

Seminars: address key knowledge objectives, familiarise the students with the patho-physiological processes, and provide appropriate assessment and treatment plans.

Small Group Teaching: (9-10 students) introduce clinical problem solving skills, deal with key clinical priorities using interactive case discussion.

Clinical Scenario: using a simulated patient:(4-5 students) Actors simulate life threatening acute illness and the students are provided with appropriate clinical equipment and results/ X-rays. An experienced doctor supervises the group managing the patient. A variety of scenarios are used over the course of the 6 days, for example: the management of septic shock, patients with obtunded conscious levels, acute pain or breathlessness. The actors are fully briefed to behave as if their condition is deteriorating acutely or responding to appropriate treatment. The students are expected to promptly assess and manage these critically unwell patients in "real time". This develops their prioritisation, clinical judgement  and decision making skills, in
addition to applying their knowledge base.

ACD Schedule for 2013-14

 

Cardiology Acute Care Day	Monday	22-Apr-2013	MBChB4
Sepsis Acute Care Day	Friday	27-Sep-2013	MBChB5
Management of the Unconscious Patient	Friday	01-Nov-2013	MBChB5
Respiratory Acute Care Day	Monday	04-Nov-2013	MBChB5
Peri-operative Acute Care Day	Monday	09-Dec-2013	MBChB5
Transfusion Acute Care Day	Monday	06-Jan-2014	MBChB5