THE PROBLEM-SOLVING APPROACH TO RESPIRATORY CARE

• To provide an evidence-based approach to the assessment and management of respiratory patients and patients undergoing surgery.

• To link assessment skills, including interpretation of blood gases, x-rays and auscultation, to the relevant physiology.

• To understand the medical management of the respiratory patient and enable full co-ordination of physiotherapy with oxygen therapy and medication.

• To critically evaluate a variety of physiotherapy techniques for the surgical patient and medical respiratory patient, including those with atelectasis, sputum retention or excess secretions.

• To provide up-to-date references to support the above, and appraise the current literature.

• To ensure effectiveness of interventions by demonstrations, videos and a practical session.

• To stimulate critical thought, and reinforce problem-solving skills by the use of case studies.



INTENSIVE CARE AND ON CALL

• To provide an evidence-based approach to the assessment and management of the ventilated patient.

• To link assessment skills to the relevant physiology, and use these to identify the problems of the intensive care patient.

• To provide an understanding of mechanical ventilation, chest drains, monitoring and support systems, including safety factors.

• To critically evaluate physiotherapy techniques for the mechanically-ventilated patient, including a practical session on pressures for manual hyperinflation, and modifications for specific disorders.

• To examine intensive care and on-call scenarios, including an interactive session on typical call-outs.

• To provide up-to-date references to support the above.

• To stimulate critical thought, and reinforce problem-solving skills by the use of case studies.



WHAT CAN WE DO FOR THE BREATHLESS PATIENT?

• • To provide an evidence-based approach to the management of breathless patients, with particular attention to those with COPD. Other conditions that incorporate breathlessness are discussed but in less detail, e.g. asthma, restrictive lung disease, heart failure, neurological disease and malignancy.

• To link assessment skills to the relevant physiology.

• To understand the medical management of the breathless patient in relation to oxygen, nutrition and the latest in pharmacology.

• To provide information on the constituents of a pulmonary rehabilitation programme.

• To provide up-to-date references to support the above, and appraise the current literature.

• To demonstate interventions by video and, when available, patient demonstration.

• To stimulate critical thought, and reinforce problem-solving skills by the use of case studies.




ADVANCED RESPIRATORY COURSE

• To provide an evidence-based approach to the management of the respiratory patient.

• Where research evidence is lacking, to use physiology, pathology and a patient-centred approach to build an evidence base.

• To reinforce clinical reasoning skills by the use of case studies and x-rays.

• To stimulate critical thought, including the use of group work.

• To re-appraise physiotherapy for the surgical patient and the mechanically-ventilated patient.

• To provide the information for setting up a pulmonary rehabilitation programme.

• To discuss respiratory audit and to facilitate group discussion of clinical education.

• To provide up-to-date references to support the above, and appraise the current literature.