Shot of a surgeon looking at a monitor in an operating room)

Medical Science for Surgery and Emergency Medicine

Continuous Professional Development Support Scheme

Summary

Medical Science for Surgery and Emergency Medicine is an online modular course presented as a series of recorded 90-minute modules.

Each module covers a specialty topic in medical science, and features recorded lectures with experts in the field alongside recommended readings. Slides covering the content are provided, and a short series of MCQs based on the content covered is completed in order to complete the module. There are seven modules available, with more modules planned for future release. You can purchase as many modules as you like – each module is worth 2 CPD points.

Each module is completed in three steps:

Review the learning materials
Your first task is to have a look at the learning materials for the module. Secondary resources are also provided to increase your understanding of the topic. These are optional — however, it is strongly recommended that you have a look at these to increase your understanding of the topic.

Test your knowledge with the module quiz
Next, you must complete a short MCQ quiz. To pass the module, you must answer all questions on the quiz correctly. There's no time limit on the quiz, and you can attempt it as many times as you need.

Download your CPD certificate
Finally, when you have reviewed all the module materials and successfully completed the quiz, you will be able to download your CPD certificate.

Academy of Clinical Science and Laboratory Medicine partnership

The Academy of Clinical Science and Laboratory Medicine is the professional body representing over 2,500 medical scientists working in the Irish health system. Evidence shows that 95% of clinical pathways require input from clinical diagnostic laboratories and that 70% of actionable data in relation to diagnosis comes from laboratory diagnostic investigations. Laboratory medicine is a key gateway to access services from community testing, to managing access to secondary and tertiary services based on clinical need, and also a key player in the patient flow of emergency departments and medical assessment units.

Courses available

Module 1: The cancer cell

The module will describe:

  • Aetiological factors which may contribute to oncogenesis and the molecular alterations involved in cell transformation.
  • Phenotypic and genotypic alterations that occur during carcinogenesis and how the cancer cell interacts with its environment to facilitate its growth.
  • Molecular and cellular effects of cancer therapies on the cancer cell (including radiation, cytotoxic agents, targeted and immune modulation therapies).

Module 2: Tumour biomarker testing and companion diagnostics in molecular pathology

The module will describe:

  • Tumour classification and molecular profiling in the characterisation of tumours.
  • The role of molecular biomarkers and companion diagnostics for targeted therapy; outline the appropriate use of either simple immunohistochemistry stains, more complex PCR assays or next generation sequencing (NGS).
  • NGS; understand the advantages/capabilities of this multigene molecular assay – the importance of variant detection to inform therapy or for clinical trial selection, understand the potential to monitor treatment efficacy and testing for the development of resistant mutations in both tissue and plasma (cfDNA) samples.

Module 1: Trends in laboratory detection of postsurgical infections

The module will describe:

  • The common pathogens associated with post-surgical infections.
  • The appropriate specimens which should be sent to the laboratory.
  • Current techniques used in the detection of post-surgical infections.
  • Future trends in detection of post-surgical infections.
  • What are the challenges in detecting post-surgical infections.

Module 2: Antimicrobial resistance in post-surgical infections

The module will describe:

  • Multidrug resistant pathogens associated with post-surgical infections.
  • What multidrug resistance means for surgical prophylaxis.

Module 1: Transfusion products and laboratory requirements for issuing

This module will describe:

  • The guidelines for transfusion of blood and blood products and the principles of the testing processes performed on samples for blood transfusion, including patient identification requirements.
  • A brief overview of the main blood group systems and rationale for transfusion testing will be given – this will include testing techniques and timelines, identification of at-risk patients, optimum product usage and the importance of communication with the laboratory.

Module 2: Blood products

This module will describe:

  • Blood products available from transfusion departments.
  • Laboratory requirements for issuing these products.
  • Indications for use.

Module 1: The abnormal coagulation profile

The module will describe:

  • The abnormal coagulation/clotting profile in emergency and critical care.

Module 2: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and coagulation

The module will describe:

  • The pathophysiology of thromboembolism formation in ECMO patients.
  • The various anticoagulation protocols and methods for monitoring the effects of anticoagulation in use.

Learning outcomes: The session will describe:

  • The immunological response to the trauma of surgery and the range of tests to support diagnosis and management.
  • The immunological response to sepsis and the range of tests to support diagnosis and management.
  • Major procedures, burns, multi-organ failure.
  • Diagnosis of immunodeficiency
  • Describe the range of tests to support the diagnosis.

Module 1: Troponin testing in the emergency department

This module will describe:

The value of cardiac troponin analysis in the investigation and diagnosis of patients with non-ST elevation (NSTEMI) chest pain presenting to the emergency department.

Module 2: Clinical importance of natriuretic peptide (BNP)

  • This module will describe:
  • The clinical importance of BNP assays for patients with suspected heart failure presenting to the emergency department and primary care.

Module 1: Near patient testing – an overview

This module will describe:

  • The national guidelines for near patient testing, ISO 22870 standard.
  • The value of near patient testing and the limitations and patient risk and safety issues.
  • The importance of verification and comparison of NPT equipment with similar laboratory methods.
  • The requirements for quality assurance processes, user training and ongoing competence assessment, IT connectivity and overall service governance by near patient testing specialists.