The course is designed for 24 participants (Emergency clinicians, residents, nurses and paramedics more than welcome).
Course description
The number of older patients in the Emergency Department is rising. Many of these older patients suffer from complex comorbidities, frailty and are at risk of adverse outcomes. Working with frail older patients can be difficult for those working in Emergency Medicine, however it is becoming more and more important.
This ‘hands on’ pre-course has the goal to improve the knowledge and skills regarding Geriatric Emergency Medicine of the participants. We start with one lecture after which the rest of the day will be filled with working groups and scenario’s with small groups.
The participants will be provided with practical tips and clinical education points with which they can start working when they are back in their own hospital.
Using several themes the main issues of working with older patients in the ED will be discussed, such as frailty, the older trauma patient, sepsis, pain management, syncope, polypharmacy, cognitive impairment and end-of-life care.
Learning objectives
To teach participants about general concepts of Geriatric Emergency Medicine such as frailty and its implications when working in the ED
To give participants clinical education about older patients with:
Trauma
Sepsis
Deprescribing / polypharmacy
Pain management
Abdominal pain
Syncope
Delirium and cognitive impairment
To give participants training on how to discuss end of life care in the ED
EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL
Prior to the course a information pack will be sent to the participants with background information to study, this way we can focus on practical work during the pre-course.
To be handed over onsite at the course: A ‘take home info pack’ will be provided to give the delegates an appreciation of the impact what having a diagnosis of frailty can mean for the trajectory/outcomes of an older person presenting to the emergency department, with written information about the wider implications of frailty on outcomes. This will contain a number of carefully selected review articles as food for thought for interested candidates. Also handouts of the slides and the summary of the key learning points will be provided.
Schedule thursday 28 october
08:30-08:40
General introduction (program, general notices)
08:40-09:00
General introduction into Geriatric Emergency Medicine