- OR Etiquette
- Critical Care
- Perinatal Medicine
- Phlebotomy and IV Access
- Central Lines from A to Z
- Arterial Access
- Lumbar Puncture Primer
- Fundoscopy—Examining the Eye
- NG and Foley Placement
OR Etiquette
This course is part of the required 3rd-year clerkship in General Surgery. OR nursing staff and physicians teach students the importance of sterility, and the techniques for hand washing, and donning mask, gown and gloves in preparation for the operating room. Students learn to identify members of the surgical team and individual responsibilities
Critical Care
Students are often the first providers at the side of a critically ill person, yet often have the least knowledge about immediate live-saving interventions. This series of lectures, spread between 2nd- and 4th-year, teaches students what to do before help arrives.
BLS Basics—“So, you’re a doctor?” What to do when the person next to you on the subway is unconscious and other pre-hospital scenarios. This course focuses on BLS basics, including EMS activation, ABCs, CPR and AEDs. Team management skills are introduced.
The Fundamentals of Patient Assessment and Rapid Intervention—What to do when your patient is ill. This course teaches students how to recognize critical illness and provide early life-saving interventions rapidly and effectively. Skills include rapid patient assessment, oxygen and airway support, treatment of hypotension, indications for CPR, when to call a code, what to do while you’re waiting for the code team to arrive. Team management skills are stressed.
Cases in Critical Care—These cases are developed and used by individual clerkships to augment clinical learning, Critically ill patients are presented and require urgent treatment. Students are allowed to determine diagnosis and initiate treatment without supervision, thus enhancing their critical care skills. Post-scenario debriefs focus on diagnostic clues, pathophysiology and treatment options. Case scenarios are maintained in a library, complete with simulator program, ancillary labs and imaging, and debriefing materials for ease of use.
Perinatal Medicine
The recent acquisition of a Noelle childbirth simulator allows our students to practice perinatal management skills. The goals of the course are to:
a. Demonstrate normal and abnormal labor
b. Understand pathophysiology of common obstetric problems
c. Recognize warning signs of maternal-fetal compromise
d. Identify critical actions for neonatal resuscitation
e. Develop a basic understanding of critical care priorities and the essentials of teamwork
Students take part in this course during their 3rd-year clerkship in OB/GYN, and sue a maternal-fetal mannequin that simulates active labor, maternal vitals monitor, fetal heart rate monitor and uterine contraction tracing to help assess and treat potential perinatal complications.
Phlebotomy and Peripheral IV Access
Intravenous access skills are a requirement for medical students and interns. A phlebotomy skills class teaches arm and skin preparation, sterile technique, blood/blood culture drawing and IV catheter placement techniques. IV arm mannequins are available for student practice.
Central Lines from A to Z
Our comprehensive curriculum introduces central line training using central line mannequins for 3rd- and 4th-year students, and provides advanced training with ultrasound guidance for interns and residents.
Central Lines I—this course provides an introduction to central venous access. Major topics include:
- Risks, benefits and consent
- Indications and contraindications
- The central line kit
- Techniques for femoral vein access
- Complications of femoral vein access
Central Lines II—This course assumes basic knowledge of the central line process and kit, and focuses on torso lines. Topics include:
- Site selection
- Catheter selection
- Risks, benefits and consent
- Techniques for subclavian and IJ access
- Complications of subclavian and IJ access
Central Line Review and Ultrasound-Guided Lines—This is a review for residents and interns with some experience in central line placement. In addition, the use of ultrasound for both peripheral and central venous access is introduced and practiced. Topics include:
- Site and catheter selection
- Complication rates and prevention
- Techniques and tips for subclavian and IJ access
- Ultrasound guidance – techniques and practice
Arterial Access
Arterial puncture for ABG and arterial lines is introduced. Indications/contraindications, Allen’s test, use of ultrasound guidance, pressure measurement and arterial line troubleshooting are addressed. Ultrasound-compatibly arterial models allow everyone to practice their skills.
Lumbar Puncture Primer
Our comprehensive curriculum introduces hands-on skills training for lumbar puncture for our 3rd- and 4th-year students, and provides advanced training with ultrasound guidance for interns and residents. Models are available for asynchronous practice after classes.
LPI—This course provides an introduction to lumbar puncture. Major topics include:
- Anatomy
- Indications and contraindications
- Patient positioning
- The kit
- Collecting the samples, ordering and labeling
LPII—This course builds on basic knowledge of lumbar puncture for students with some experience. Topics include:
- Anatomy and positioning, redux (ultrasound possible)
- Informed Consent: risks, benefits and complications
- Analgesia
- Review of Kit and the importance of manometry
- Collecting the samples, orders and labeling
Advanced LP—Review and Ultrasound Guidance
- Anatomy and positioning
- Informed Consent
- The difficult patient: how to deal with obesity, scoliosis and arthritis
- Ultrasound guidance – using ultrasound to detect the spinous processes and the intervertebral space
- Complications and how to treat them
- Teach the teachers – teaching residents to teach
Fundoscopy – Examining the Eye
The Sim Center houses two fundoscopic models with interchangeable retina that demonstrate normal and pathological retinae, retinal vasculature, disk and nerve pathologies. These can be viewed using standard ophthalmoscopes through normal or dilated pupils.
These models are used both to teach fundoscopic examination to first- and second-year medical students, as well as to illustrate the utility of fundoscopic evaluation for the diagnosis of pathologic conditions, such as diabetic retinopathy, using case studies.
NG and Foley Insertion
Techniques and tips for insertion of nasogastric, orogastric tubes and foley catheters. Avoidance and management of complications are discussed. Students practice on our simulators.