Course Catalog

Central Line Placement

Studies have proven that central line training can eliminate central line associated blood stream infections. Our Central Line Placement course trains participants using established guidelines for central venous catheter insertion, including the use of a central line bundle kit, aseptic technique, and maximum barrier precautions. The course emphasizes protocols and best-practices demonstrated to increase patient safety and reduce infection rates. Multiple anatomical approaches are covered including the pros and cons of each anatomical site. Training also includes ultrasound guided placement techniques.

Participants will learn to:

Describe the anatomical landmarks and approach options for central line catheterization
Utilize ultrasound for precise line placement
Demonstrate safe and sterile placement of a central venous catheter
Recognize how to avoid complications of central venous catheterization such as a hematoma, pneumothorax and infection

Point of Care Ultrasound

Point of care ultrasound has become a core competency in emergency medicine training and is now being used by over 20 other non-radiology specialists. It is recommended by the CDC as the standars of care for central line placement and skilled use has been shown to decrease the need for this invasive procedure. Point of care ultrasound also improves clinician diagnostic accuracy, decreases resource utilization, increases patient safety, and increases patient satisfaction. Our course reviews key aspects of ultrasound image acquisition and interpretation. The course emphasizes specific clinical applications including evaluation and management of the hypotensive patient, central line placement, and evaluation of undifferentiated dyspnea. Training utilizes state-of-the-art ultrasound systems and phantoms as well as standardized patients.

Participants will learn to:

Improve their skills at ultrasound image acquisition
Utilize ultrasound for central and peripheral line placement
Learn techniques to image different organ systems
Understand how to use point of care ultrasound imaging for different clinical scenarios
Benefit from low participant-to-instructor ratios for effective hands-on learning

Advanced Airway

In the Advanced Airway course participants will learn to effectively meet the challenges of airway management by focusing on the difficult and failed airway. The advanced airway course consists of a series of scenarios using sophisticated simulation technology to train participants in the varied skills and techniques required to successfully manage difficult airways.

Participants will learn to:

Determine the best method of airway management for particular circumstances at hand
Rapidly assess the patient's need for a definitive airway
Use a variety of airway devices proficiently to achieve a definitive airway
Recognize when a planned airway intervention has failed and an alternative technique is required

Difficult Delivery

Using high-fidelity maternal and infant simulators, participants will experience and learn to manage various complex delivery situations. The realistic simulation experience will also help labor and delivery care providers improve teamwork, communication, and crisis management skills.

Participants will learn to:

Identify risk factors for difficult delivery
Interpret fetal monitor tracings and recognize signs of fetal distress
Perform advanced delivery techniques for shoulder dystocia and breech presentation
Recognize and manage post-partum hemorrhage
Recognize and manage hypertensive disorders (severe HTN, preeclampsia, eclampsia)

Effective Teamwork in HealthCare

Effective teamwork is recognized as a requirement for enhanced clinical outcomes in the delivery of healthcare. Poor collaboration and failures in communication among members of the health care team are a leading cause of adverse patient events. this interactive simulation workshop focuses on teamwork and communication skills that enhance clincial performance and patient outcomes. Patricipants will learn to develop high-functioning teams using proven principles of Team STEPPS and interprofessional collaboration.

Participants will learn to:

Develop competencies required for effective teamwork
Employ principles of teamwork that improve patient outcomes
Enhance interprofessional interactions and team collaboration

Emergency and Trauma Resuscitation

This program is designed to ensure that participants are exposed to the life-saving skills necessary for the initial resuscitation and management of the trauma or emergency medical patient. Remaining proficient in high-stakes procedures can significantly improve patient outcomes; especially when situations requiring these skills are not frequently encountered in clinical practice. Simulation skills training can help clinicians and first responders obtain proficiency and remain competent in critical skills required for emergency resuscitation.

Participants will learn to:

Assess patients for signs and symptoms of cardiac and respiratory distress and initiate appropriate management
Conduct the initial assessment and stabilization of trauma patients
Implement emergency resuscitation protocols
Perform bedside emergency procedures

Clinical Communication and Teamwork Skills

Communication failures are recognized as a leading cause of adverse patient events. This interactive simulation workshop focuses on clinical communication skills and team-training to enhance clinical performance and patient outcome. Participants will learn to develop high-functioning teams, enhance patient satisfaction, address disruptive behavior, facilitate conflict resolution and apply principles of teamwork and leadership communication. The program uses proven principles and techniques of effective communication and teamwork including SBAR and TeamSTEPPS. This versatile workshop can be tailored to the specific needs of participants including hand-offs/transitions of care, communication in crisis situations, paging simulations, breaking bad news, error disclosure, and end-of-life care discussions. One-on-once coaching and feedback using standardized patients is also available.

Participants will learn to:

Demonstrate the use of effective clinical communication to improve safety and teamwork
Address communication failures that account for the majority of adverse events and conflicts in the professional environment.
Enhance interprofessional interactions and workplace communication
Utilize techniques to improve communication with patients and colleagues
Apply communication techniques to reduce liability and improve patient satisfaction

'Mobile' Simulation

This program effectively brings the simulation lab into your facility as helps participants discover opportunities for process improvement. By bringing our simulation resources to your medical facility, scenarios can be performed using actual environments, equipment and staff in order to allow participants to assess teamwork, improve efficiency and address system-level factors within their organization. This mobile simulation program can be implemented anywhere including the ambulance bay of the emergency department, intensive care units, operating rooms, inpatient floors, outpatient clinics and even non-patient care areas of the hospital. Simulation is a powerful tool for testing healthcare processes, equipment and
hospital functions.

Participants will learn to:

Assess efficiency, teamwork and process within your organization
Implement systems-level interventions to improve efficiency and quality
Detect potential latent errors and redesign systems to prevent harm to patients
Perform a gap analysis of team and system performance
Identify opportunities to improve practices, policies and protocols
Evaluate the usability of new health care equipment and technology

Breast Ultrasound Course

This hands-on, interactive course is designed for clinicians interested in learning how to incorporate ultrasound into their practice. The course will provide an overview of ultrasound physics as well as a comprehensive review of the principles of diagnostic and interventional breast ultrasound. Participants will work with ultrasound devices and simulated breast models to learn to characterize breast lesions and perform needle biopsy procedures.

Describe the principles of ultrasound physics
Demonstrate fundamental skills in scanning breast ultrasound
Recognize breast anatomy on ultrasound imaging
Characterize benign and malignant breast lesions on ultrasound
Perform ultrasound-guided breast needle biopsy techniques
Describe appropriate coding for breast ultrasound and ultrasound guided breast procedures

Custom Simulation Scenario Development

This hands-on program will teach participants how to design effective simulation scenarios to meet their particular clinical needs. Customized scenarios are designed specifically to meet the unique training needs of the learners within your organization. These scenarios are created based on your specifications while working closely with members of the simulation development team. This process includes performing a needs assessment, developing an effective simulation training program, assessing the impact of training and implementing quality improvement metrics.

Participants will learn to:

Conduct a customized needs assessment and risk assessment
Utilize essential skills for simulation scenario development
Effectively use adult learning principles and debriefing to enhance training
Construct powerful learning objectives and methods of assessment