Intended learning outcomes (knowledge, skills and competences to be developed by the students) :

Knowledge:

• Causes, mechanisms, manifestations and immediate treatment of pathologies seen in emergency services;
   
• Triage based on urgency levels;
   
• Use of a systematic and directed approach to diagnosis and treatment in situations where the speed of diagnosis and therapeutic management is crucial;
   
• Interpreting the main diagnostic tests used in emergency situations;
   
• Recognizing the particularities of special population groups

Skills:

• Assessment using the ABCDE approach;
   
• Performing high quality life-support;
   
• Venipuncture and arterial puncture for blood gas analysis;
   
• Placement of central venous catheters and arterial lines;
   
• Assessment of conditions/preparation for the transport of the critically ill;
   
• Using focused POCUS exam in emergency settings

Attitudes:

• Achieving optimal teamwork by optimizing all domains of NTS;
   
• Communication with patients and families (delivering bad news, discussing risks, obtaining informed consent);
   
• Effective relaying of patient information;
   
• Performing clinical debriefs of critical events;
   
• Recognizing iterative simulation as an essential tool for Medical Emergency Team (MET) training

The selected teaching methods and techniques will maximize the students learning outcomes, engaging them in an interactive and immersive learning environment.

Syllabus:

The program will focus on the initial approach and differential diagnosis of the most common causes of ED visits: chest, abdominal, back and limb pain, dyspnea, fever, headache, neurologic deficits, syncope, trauma.

The commonest syndromes

The topics covered will include:

Introduction to Emergency Medicine

• Scope and principles of emergency medicine
• Triage and patient prioritization in the emergency department (ED)
• Initial assessment and stabilization (ABCDE approach)

Crisis Resource Management (CRM) and Non-Technical Skills Training

• Leadership and communication in high-pressure situations
• Teamwork and situational awareness
• Managing cognitive load in emergency situations
• Mitigating human error in crisis scenarios

Airway, Breathing, and Circulation (ABC) Emergencies

• Airway management techniques (intubation, supraglottic airways, cricothyrotomy)
• Respiratory emergencies: asthma, COPD exacerbation, pulmonary embolism, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
• Shock and cardiovascular emergencies: acute coronary syndromes, cardiac arrest, arrhythmias, congestive heart failure
• Bleeding diathesis and transfusion: Acute GI bleeding, Aortic Aneurysm rupture, Post-op and Obstetric hemorrhage

Trauma and Critical Injury Management

• Advanced trauma life support (ATLS) principles
• Head and spinal cord injuries
• Chest, abdominal, and pelvic trauma
• Fracture and soft tissue injury management

Neurological and Neurovascular Emergencies

• Stroke and transient ischemic attacks (TIAs)
• Seizures and status epilepticus
• Meningitis and encephalitis
• Acute headache evaluation (subarachnoid hemorrhage, migraine, increased intracranial pressure)

Toxicology and Environmental Emergencies

• Common toxic ingestions and poisonings (opioids, acetaminophen, carbon monoxide)
• Hypothermia and hyperthermia management
• Drowning and electrical injuries

Infectious Disease and Sepsis Management

• Sepsis and septic shock resuscitation
• Management of common infectious diseases (pneumonia, urinary tract infections, skin and soft tissue infections)

Procedural Skills in Emergency Medicine

• Vascular access (peripheral IV, central line placement, intraosseous access)
• Chest tube insertion
• Point-of-care ultrasound (eFAST, cardiac ultrasound, procedural guidance)
• Wound management and suturing

Ethical and Legal Considerations in Emergency Medicine

• Informed consent and capacity assessment
• Medical error and patient safety principles
• Ethical dilemmas in end-of-life care and resuscitation decisions (DNR/DNI orders).