ACES

Acute Critical Events
Simulation (ACES)

• For Physicians
• For Allied Health Professionals
• For In-Training

CRI Edunet online learning system

See available courses for ACES

Objective

The primary aim of the ACES course is to provide an approach to the acute resuscitation of acutely ill patients. The ACES course introduces the concepts of crisis resource management (CRM) along with approach strategies and practical skills required in the early resuscitation of acutely ill patients.

Upon successful completion of the ACES course, the participant will be able to:

• List and describe the principles of effective crisis management including leadership, communication, situational awareness, problem solving, and resource utilization.
• Perform an initial assessment of a critically ill patient and initiate effective life saving management strategies.
• Establish management priorities and develop a treatment strategy in a patient with conflicting medical problems.
• Use basic maneuvers and intubation skills pertinent to definitive airway management.
• Manage a patient in respiratory failure. The participant will understand the principles of mechanical ventilation (both invasive and non-invasive), be able to set up and adjust the ventilator, and also learn to trouble shoot common problems pertaining to mechanical ventilation.
• Assess, diagnose, and manage shock. This will include management principles for patients in shock, including the use of fluid therapy and vasoactive medications.

For certain participant groups, such as Fellows in Critical Care, they will also be able to:

• Implement current transfusion practices in the acutely ill patient.
• Apply antibiotic therapy practices in the acutely ill patient.

Target Population

The ACES program targets all physicians who may be called upon infrequently to manage critically ill patients. With this in mind, the audience is not limited to physicians who work in an intensive care unit, but rather, it is suitable for a much broader audience. The course is best suited to family physicians and general internists, though emergentologists and anesthetists wishing to review their resuscitation skills will find it beneficial.

Prerequisite

The ACES course is not intended to replace the Adult Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Course. Rather, the knowledge and skills acquired in the ACES course assume that the participant already has the basic techniques that are covered in ACLS. Consequently, it is recommended that the participant have current ACLS certification.

ACES Program Syllabus and Course Website

The ACES program syllabus book and website are intended to be used as reference resources and are complimentary companion materials to the ACES course. They contain basic scientific information and clinical evidence that supports the ACES approach. They also include more detailed information that enhances the material presented during the face-to-face portion of the course.

1. Principles of airway assessment and management
2. Airway management devices
3. Sedation recommendations
4. Principles of management of acute respiratory failure
5. Principles of mechanical ventilation
6. Hemodynamic management of acutely ill patients
7. Vasoactive medication preparation and infusion protocols
8. Manual of central venous catheter insertion
9. Antibiotic recommendations for sepsis and localized infections
10. Principles of crisis management and high-fidelity computer simulation

Course Format

The ACES course is a two-day program. An introduction and welcome lecture is given to all participants. The course is structured so that the participants take the program in four half-day modules, each half-day covering a major topic. For certain groups of participants, such as Critical Care Fellows, the course is tailored to add modules such as Transfusions and Antibiotics to treat Sepsis. The four main modules are:

1. Airway
2. Breathing
3. Circulation
4. High-Fidelity Simulation

Instructor - Participant Ratio

A Certified instructor is provided for each module and each High-Fidelity Simulation station, ensuring a maximum of an 8:1 participant: instructor ratio.

Course Evaluation

The purpose of the ACES course is not to assess physician knowledge but rather to provide the participant with a comprehensive yet concise approach to the assessment and management of critically ill patients.

As part of our commitment to continuous quality management, all participants are required to submit confidential evaluation forms upon completion of the ACES course.

Maintenance of Certitication/ CME Credits for ACES

The ACES course is accredited by both the College of Family Physicians of Canada and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. An official certificate indicating the date of the course and the elegible CME credits is sent electronically once course evaluations are submitted. Participants will receive an email with the link to the post-course questionnaire shortly after the course.

For Family Physicians

This program meets the accreditation criteria of The College of Family Physicians of Canada and has been accredited for 8.0 Mainpro-M1 and 8.0 Mainpro-C credits.

Three months after the ACES course participants will receive a short post-course reflective exercise from CRI. To be eligible for Mainpro-C credits, this exercise must be completed and returned to CRI. We will then issue a certificate indicating eligibility for 8.0 Mainpro-M1 plus 8.0 Main pro-C credits.

If a participant prefers, she/hey may opt not to complete the post-course reflective exercise. In this case, we will send a certificate indicating eligibility for 16.0 Mainpro-M1 credits. Participants will be able to indicate their preference when they complete the online course evaluation.

For Specialists

This event is an Accredited Group Learning Activity (Sections 1 and 3) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. This program has been reviewed and approved by the University of Ottawa, Office of Continuing Medical Education.

ACES has been accredited for 11 Section-1 credits and 6 Section-3 credits, with no need to complete the follow-up reflective exercise. Participants will receive a certificate soon after completing the online course evaluation.

Participants will still receive the follow-up reflective activity 3 months after the course. If they choose to complete it, they may be able to tie it to a Personal Learning Project for Section-4 credits.

Contact the Royal College for more information.

If you have any questions, please contact:

Dr. Tim Willett
Manager, Curriculum Development & Research Initiatives
613-569-4985 x102