Critical Care Elective

The purpose of this course is to introduce senior Medical Student with career goals in Emergency and or Critical Care Medicine to gain significant exposure, education and experience, in Emergency Critical Care; specifically the acute assessment, and management of medical, traumatic and pediatric resuscitations. Students will be scheduled to work shifts in the Resuscitation area of the UF Health Emergency Department and will work closely with faculty, residents and fellows in the management of the highest acuity cases that present to the ED. Students are expected to become integrated into the care team. Students will also spend significant time in the department’s simulation lab learning and perfecting critical care procedures and resuscitation skills. Assigned readings will be provided and the student will be expected to present a summary of the readings for review.

Course Goals

This course is designed for the MS4 who has completed the EM requirement and has a career interest in EM. This course will provide a focused experience in Emergency Critical Care including airway management, and care of Trauma, Sepsis, Respiratory failure, Acute MI’s, Strokes and other acute severely ill patients. The student will be paired with an EM resident or Critical Care fellow during shifts and be active participant in the care team in the Resuscitation module of the ED.

Course Objectives

  1. Demonstrate the ability to rapidly assess the critically ill and injured. Obtain an AMPLE history, and perform a focused problem based examination.
  2. Demonstrate ability to perform ACLS algorithms for V-fib arrest, stable and unstable V-tach and tachyarrhythmias, and bradycardia.
  3. Demonstrate the ability to read ECG and interpret then above arrhythmias. Demonstrate ability to manage respiratory distress including BiPAP, intubation, and ventilator management.
  4. Demonstrate ability to interpret ABG.
  5. Demonstrate the ability to calculate ISS score.
  6. Demonstrate the ability to calculate APACHE II score.
  7. Demonstrate the ability to perform follow up on patients resuscitated in the ED.