Outcomes and format

The key to Emergency Medicine is balancing and integrating the various, often conflicting aspects of assessing and managing the partially differentiated patient, while maintaining an effective, safe flow within the Emergency Department.

Consultant level decision making rests on up-to-date knowledge and skills. These enable Emergency Physicians to take responsibility for each professional action, and to tailor assessment and management to each individual patient they encounter. It is not enough to merely follow local protocols, as these can never cater for every contingency. Especially when the need arises to make adjustments, it is vital that there is deeper knowledge of the underlying evidence upon which these protocols are based. Only this understanding can lead to responsible decision making, and targeted use of tests and treatments. Informed confidence in your own approach, an insight into controversial and evidence-free areas, combined with excellent communication skills, enable the Emergency Physician to collaborate effectively with other specialists.

Knowledge of the latest research, guidelines, and other literature with respect to a particular topic requires ongoing professional education. This is an active process, for which each physician ultimately bears the responsibility himself. Developing an effective, sustainable way to maintain knowledge and skills is an important aspect that will be addressed in this Masterclass.
All participants are experienced doctors, who will have their own, established ways to maintain their professional development. The faculty consists of senior Emergency Physicians with extensive experience as educators, and are keen to assist participants evaluate and augment their own particular learning styles.

The topics in the Masterclass have been carefully selected for the richness of their content, layers of evidence and areas of controversy. Not only will we take a deep dive into the subject matter of these topics, we also hope that critically appraising the available evidence and guidelines will become second nature. We hope that participants will find that they can then apply the skills learned in this process to other topics within the field of Emergency Medicine.

• You are able to discuss the latest literature and guidelines in depth, with respect to a number of selected topics in Emergency Medicine;
• You are more confident in your own approach to these areas of Emergency Medicine;
• You are able to actively apply this approach to individual patient presentations;
• You are able to more easily ensure high-level ongoing maintenance of your knowledge and skills; continuous medical education will become second nature.

The following chapters highlight the proposed study schedule, specific learning goals and the structure of this Masterclass.

During individual study, guided by weekly outcomes and challenges, you will gain further factual and conceptual knowledge with regards to the topics in the MC. The Masterclass is intentionally designed NOT to deliver content, but rather to guide you through the wealth of information available, and help you integrate and use the available resources.

During the workshops, course days and assignments you will develop a meta-understanding of the subject matter, and improve your ability to apply these principles to the complex world of Emergency Medicine. You will also develop strategies to maintain current knowledge, and to recognise, accept and work with deficiencies in the medical literature.