Pre-course: The European Course on Geriatric Emergency Medicine (ECGEM)

Sunday 2 October: 08:00 - 13:30

Course Director

    • Abdelouahab Bellou (USA/France)

Moderators

  • Christian Nickel (Switzerland)
  • Jay Banerjee (UK)
  • Fredrik Sjöstrand (Sweden)

Faculty

Mehmet Karamercan (Turkey), James Wallace (UK), Petra Wilke (Germany), Javier Martin Sanchez (Spain), Kevin Biese (USA), Helen Askitopoulou (Greece), Vincent Argent (UK), Richard Wolfe (USA)

Max. participants: 30 

Introduction:

Emergency care of older adults requires specific skills because of a unique physiology, atypical presentations and specific needs for the organization of care.  
Hospitals have to get adapted to the increasing demand of senior in the ED with a need of specific and innovative pathways for older patients.
This course is organized in collaboration between EuSEM and the European Union of Geriatric Medicine Society. The program of the course will follow the European Curriculum on GEM. 

Overall objectives

1- To be familiar with the concept of Geriatric Emergency Medicine (GEM).

2- To be familiar with the management of common and atypical clinical presentations of older patients in the ED.

3- To learn how to use comprehensive geriatric assessment in the ED.

4- To be familiar with ethical issues in older patients managed in the ED.

Methodology

This is a half-day course. European Experts will be involved in the course. They will use lectures, scenarios. The course will be interactive with multiple exchanges between trainers and trainees. Time will be dedicated for discussion on each topic. All students will receive a pre-course book including lectures and bibliography related to topics that will be taught. Trainees are supposed to study the materials before the course. A pre course / post course test will be proposed to the trainees.

Public:

Professionals who are involved in the care of older patients in emergency medicine settings (ED, Pre-hospital): emergency physicians, geriatricians, nurses, paramedics, social workers etc…

Program:

7:30 to 8:00: Welcome and Breakfast

8:00 to 8:10: Introduction: Abdelouahab Bellou (USA/France)

8:10 to 9:10:   Clinical implications of aging physiologic changes: Abdelouahab Bellou (USA/France)

                      Management of unstable older patients (videos and serious games): Mehmet Karamercan (Turkey)

9:10 to 9:50: Clinical presentations (1): Non-specific acute presentations seen in older patients: Christian Nickel (Switzerland) & James Wallace (UK) 

  • weakness
  • fatigue
  • confusion
  • general deterioration
  • immobility

9:50 to 10:30 : Clinical presentations (2): Petra Wilke (Germany) & Javier Martin Sanchez (Spain)

  • Back pain
  • Low impact falls
  • Dyspnea
  • Abdominal pain
  • Chest pain

10:30 to 10:40: Coffee break

10:40 to 11:20: Delirium: Richard Wolfe (USA) & Jay Banerjee (UK)

11:20 to 12:20: Geriatric Assessment in the ED: Biese Kevin (USA), Jay Banerjee (UK), Fredrik Sjöstrand (Sweden)

12:20 to 13:00: Ethics: Vincent Argent (UK) & Helen Askitopoulou (Greece)

  • End of life care
  • Access to intensive care – DNR or not
  • Patients without a primary caretaker – legal issues

 13:00 to 13:30: Conclusion-Evaluation and post-test.