This course builds on prior professional medical training and is targeted at those with current ALS experience. The course provides an opportunity to exercise robust critical thinking in the application of both new and existing knowledge in non-traditional environments and provides ACLS, ATLS, AMLS, AELS, and TCCC certification.

Faculty: Austere Medicine
Course Name: Critical Care Austere Medic
Course Code:  AM-CC
Duration: 120 Hours
Mode: Face-to-face
Level: ALS with extended scope austere protocols

Prerequisites: This course requires participants to be certified at Paramedic (ALS) level, have a current EMS license (where applicable) or other accepted level 5 certificate in a healthcare related discipline, as well as a current, and significant ALS certificate.

Packaging: The course may be delivered over 15 or more full-time days. 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: 20 prep hours, 32 lecture hours, 32 practical hours, 32 simulation hours, 4 assessment hours

Certification: Upon successful completion of the course, participants receive an internationally recognised certification from Austere & Emergency Medicine International in Critical Care Austere Medicine (AM-CC), valid for two years. Re-certification can be achieved by attending a refresher course.

MANDATORY UNITS:

1. Introduction to the Austere Environment
2. Medicolegal Considerations
3. Working with Diverse Cultures & Traditional Peoples
4. Working with the SOGIESC Diverse Patient
5. Communication in Complex & Emergency Situations
6. Critical Issues with Critical Systems in the Austere Context
7. Austere Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support
8. Austere Advanced Medical Life Support
9. Austere Advanced Trauma Life Support
10. Austere Adanved Environmental Life Suppport
11. Austere Protocols 1-13

ELECTIVE UNITS:

1. Introduction to Tactical Medicine

The Critical Care Austere Medic Class is specifically designed for highly skilled healthcare professionals, including doctors, paramedics, and nurses, who possess a post-basic qualification in emergency care. This advanced course is tailored to provide an extensive understanding and advanced skill set for delivering critical care in austere environments, where resource constraints and challenging conditions require specialized expertise.

Ideal participants for the Advanced Critical Care Austere Medic Class include:

1. Emergency Physicians and Doctors: Medical professionals with expertise in emergency medicine seeking advanced critical care skills applicable to austere environments.

2. Paramedics with Post-Basic Qualification: Paramedics with a post-basic qualification in emergency care, looking to enhance their capabilities for advanced critical care response in challenging and remote settings.

3. Advanced Practice Nurses: Nurses with a post-basic qualification in emergency care, aiming to advance their critical care skills for application in austere conditions.

These healthcare professionals bring a strong foundation in emergency care, and the course is crafted to further elevate their expertise in providing advanced critical care within austere settings. The training emphasizes specialized techniques and protocols tailored for austere environments, ensuring participants are well-equipped to handle complex medical scenarios and contribute to optimal patient outcomes in resource-limited conditions.

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

1. Understand the Austere Environment: Develop an advanced understanding of the unique challenges and considerations associated with providing life support in austere environments.

2. Medicolegal Considerations: Explore and apply advanced concepts of legal considerations pertinent to complex life support interventions in austere environments.

3. Working with Diverse Cultures & Traditional Peoples: Develop advanced skills in culturally sensitive life support, adapting approaches when working with diverse cultures and traditional communities.

4. Working with the SOGIESC Diverse Patient: Demonstrate proficiency in providing life support that is sensitive to the needs of patients with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, expressions, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC).

5. Communication in Complex & Emergency Situations: Master advanced communication skills for complex and emergency medical situations, considering diverse patient needs and cultural contexts in life support settings.

6. Critical Issues with Critical Systems in the Austere Context: Address advanced issues related to key physiological systems, focusing on their complex management in diverse and complex austere life support conditions.

7. Austere Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support: Demonstrate advanced proficiency in assessing and managing cardiovascular emergencies using ACLS principles, incorporating advanced life support interventions.

8. Austere Advanced Medical Life Support: Demonstrate advanced proficiency in assessing and managing common medical emergencies using AMLS principles, incorporating advanced life support interventions.

9. Austere Advanced Trauma Life Support: Demonstrate advanced proficiency in assessing and managing traumatic injuries using ATLS principles, incorporating advanced techniques for life support.

10. Austere Advanced Environmental Life Support: Demonstrate advanced proficiency in assessing and managing environmental emergencies using AELS principles, incorporating advanced life support interventions.

11. Austere Protocols 1-13: Apply advanced knowledge and skills in implementing the first thirteen austere protocols, emphasizing their practical application in diverse and complex life support scenarios.

12. Synthesize Knowledge for Comprehensive Austere Life Support: Integrate knowledge gained from the course modules to effectively respond to a wide array of complex life support challenges in diverse and complex austere environments, demonstrating advanced decision-making and adaptability.

13. Advanced Life Support Algorithmic Application: Master the judicious application of advanced life support algorithms, focusing on systematic assessment and treatment strategies tailored to the austere context.

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 four papers, each containing 50 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 Critical Care Austere Medic.