MDCS42320 Emergencies in SEM

Academic Year 2023/2024

There is a lack of both short day courses and longer certificate/diploma level courses in the management of Sports and Exercise Medicine (SEM) emergencies in Ireland. Short SEM emergency care courses historically have catered for both physiotherapists and doctors. While these courses have provided practical skills, supported by evidenced based medicine, they are time restricted and can lack important aspects of therapeutics and other essential core skills required for the SEM practitioner.

There is a diverse range of demands encountered in Irish sport including track and field activities, equestrian events, motorsport and water-sports activities to name a few. In addition, members of the public attending such events may occasionally be the subject of a medical emergency. Thankfully, serious medical emergencies are infrequent but the diversity of settings and clinical problems encountered, now demands the development of a bespoke programme which provides training in the essentials of care.

Chartered Physiotherapists may be the sole practitioners available on the pitch-side in many sports at club or local level in the event of major trauma and/or medical emergencies. There is a clear need for physiotherapists to be competent and aware of emergency medical management protocols to be able to safely triage and identify life threatening injuries while still working within their scope of practice.

Furthermore, SEM practitioners working with individuals or at the pitch-side are exposed to potential life threatening emergencies both in Ireland and while travelling abroad (with different equipment available to them, and possibly different healthcare systems and EMS services).

This course will provide the practitioner with a deeper knowledge and understanding of the potential emergencies encountered when working in a broad range of SEM fields. There will be an emphasis on practical skills acquisition with the overall aim to develop competencies in the pre-hospital management of a broad range of SEM emergencies.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

Learning outcomes:
a) Develop advanced knowledge and practical skills around key issues in advanced life support in cardiac emergencies including epidemiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology and therapeutics
b) Develop advanced knowledge and practical skills around key issues in advanced life support in trauma emergencies including epidemiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology and therapeutics
c) Develop advanced knowledge and practical skills of medical emergencies in sports medicine including epidemiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology and therapeutics
d) Develop advanced knowledge and practical skills of sports medicine leadership and management including major incident management, stadium and systems organisation/leadership and team work
e) Develop advanced knowledge and practical skills of specialised sports medicine subjects such as diving medicine, extremes of heat, and specialised sporting populations.

Graduate Attributes for Professional Certificate:
Graduates will have acquired a comprehensive understanding of the theoretical management of these major emergencies. In addition graduates will have acquired an in depth understanding of the application of this knowledge to clinical cases through repetitive skills simulations and scenarios.


Indicative Module Content:

1) Acute Cardiac Emergencies
General cardiology theory including acute coronary syndrome and cardiac life support management update
Tachy/brady arrhythmias
Pharmacology

2) Acute Trauma Emergencies
General trauma theory
Concussion and head injury
Pain Management
Pharmacology

3) Medical Emergencies in Sport
General assessment to acute medically unwell athlete.
Workshop - Doctors bag – Equipment

4) Sports Issues- Management/Leadership and Planning
Major incident planning - stadium/events
Leadership and teamwork

5) Sports issues –Special Circumstances and Special Populations:
Diving Medicine
Managing in-flight emergencies
Extremes of heat – Hypothermia and hyperthermia management
An introduction to specialised populations

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

50
Small Group

20
Practical

30
Autonomous Student Learning

200
Total

300
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Teaching and learning strategies


Lectures will be held on online
Skills training / scenarios will take place on campus
Small group sessions will include presentations, case-based discussion and problem-based learning
Case reviews and critical appraisal will take place virtually using the online bright-space platform


 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Practical Examination: Practical exam/skills Varies over the Trimester n/a Alternative non-linear conversion grade scale 50% Yes

30
Continuous Assessment: Course work Throughout the Trimester n/a Alternative non-linear conversion grade scale 50% No

50
Examination: Open book end of semester exam Coursework (End of Trimester) Yes Alternative non-linear conversion grade scale 50% No

20

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Remediation Type Remediation Timing
In-Module Resit Prior to relevant Programme Exam Board
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Peer review activities
• Self-assessment activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
 

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