This course is designed for those with significant ALS level experience who wish to learn how to perform advanced invasive procedures in the austere context, and explore the various considerations for their application outside of a controlled surgical environment.

Faculty: Austere Medicine
Course Name: Austere Advanced Life Support
Course Code:  AALS
Duration: 24 Hours
Mode: Face-to-face or Hybrid
Level: ALS with extended scope protcols

Prerequisites: This course requires participants to be certified at an AM-CC level, or hold an MD, DO, or other recognized medical degree.

Packaging: The course may be delivered over 3 or more full-time days. Part-time courses must be approved by the Curriculum Director. A hybrid course may be delivered over 2 full-time days in combination with the pre-work available in the learning management system. Part-time courses must be approved by the Curriculum Director.

Instructional Strategies: This course combines lecture-based instruction with practical application. Instructional strategies include pre-reading, lectures, discussions, demonstrations, practical application, simulation, and presentations.

Effort Breakdown: 6 prep hours, 4 lecture hours, 12 practical hours, 2 assessment hours

Certification: Upon successful completion of the course, participants receive an internationally recognised certification from Austere & Emergency Medicine International in Austere Advanced Life Support (AALS), valid for three years. Re-certification can be achieved by attending a refresher course.

MANDATORY UNITS

1. FONA
2. Chest Decompression (finger, needle)
3. Retrieval Amputation
4. Escherotomy
5. Burr-hole Craniotomy
6. Wound packing & haemostatic suturing

The Austere Advanced Life Support course is meticulously designed for doctors and critical care austere medics seeking specialized expertise in providing advanced life support in challenging and resource-limited environments. This advanced training covers a range of critical modules, ensuring participants acquire the necessary skills to perform intricate medical procedures in austere conditions.

Ideal participants for the Austere Advanced Life Support course include:

1. Emergency Physicians: Physicians with a background in emergency care, aiming to enhance their proficiency in delivering advanced life support in austere settings.

2. Austere Medics with Advanced Qualifications: Experienced austere medics with advanced qualifications in emergency and critical care, seeking to further refine their skills for complex medical interventions.

3. Intensive Care Specialists: Medical professionals with expertise in intensive care, desiring to adapt their skills for austere conditions and intricate life support scenarios.

4. Austere Medical Directors: Medical directors overseeing austere medical programs, ensuring they possess a comprehensive understanding of the advanced life support interventions performed by their teams.

This course is tailored to empower participants with the knowledge and hands-on skills needed to execute advanced life support procedures such as FONA (Front of Neck Access), chest decompression using finger and needle techniques, retrieval amputation, escharotomy, burr-hole craniotomy, wound packing, and haemostatic suturing. The target audience comprises doctors and critical care austere medics who are committed to delivering the highest standard of advanced life support in austere and challenging environments.

On successful completion of the course, participants should be able to:

1. FONA (Front-of-Neck Access): Demonstrate proficiency in performing Front-of-Neck Access procedures, including the use of advanced airway techniques in austere medical scenarios.

2. Chest Decompression (finger, needle): Master the techniques of chest decompression using both finger and needle methods, ensuring accurate and efficient intervention for tension pneumothorax in austere environments.

3. Retrieval Amputation: Acquire necessary skills in retrieval amputation procedures, demonstrating the ability to safely and effectively perform limb removal in challenging austere conditions.

4. Escherotomy: Demonstrate proficiency in escherotomy procedures, understanding and applying advanced techniques for relieving compartment syndrome in austere medical settings.

5. Burr-hole Craniotomy: Develop advanced skills in performing blind burr-hole craniotomy, providing effective management of increased intracranial pressure injuries in austere environments.

6. Wound Packing & Hemostatic Suturing: Master the techniques of wound packing and hemostatic suturing, demonstrating advanced proficiency in managing traumatic injuries and controlling hemorrhage in austere conditions.

1. Attendance Requirement: 100% attendance is mandatory to pass the course. Reasonable adjustments will be made where practicable.

2. Physical Fitness Requirement: A certain level of fitness and strength is necessary to fulfill the duties of a first responder in emergency situations. Failure based on physical criteria is not discriminatory but practical for the role's demands.

3. Written Exam: The written exam consists of six papers, each containing 20 multiple-choice questions. A pass mark of 80% is required to successfully complete the written component.

4. Practical Assessments: Formative and summative practical assessments are conducted throughout the course. Summative assessments include simulations and mini-codes. Competent performance of all skills is essential to pass.

5. Exam and Class Outcome: It is possible to pass the written exam and fail the class if practical competency is not achieved.

   Conversely, it is possible to fail the written exam and pass the class if exceptional practical performance is demonstrated, and adequate knowledge of the curriculum can be demonstrated through other assessment activities.

6. Re-exam Opportunity: If a participant fails the written exam, a verbal re-exam will be provided to offer an opportunity to showcase their knowledge.

7. Special Accommodations: Participants with language difficulties or divergent learning needs can request a verbal or alternative style of exam. Reasonable accommodations will be made to facilitate a fair assessment process.

Note: The assessment criteria aim to ensure a comprehensive evaluation of both theoretical and practical competencies, promoting a well-rounded and capable Austere ALS Providers.