Overview
The Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis Visiting Preceptorship in Acute Care Surgery offers participants an opportunity for a peer-to-peer exchange of experience and sharing of best practices in abdominal and soft tissue management, including surgical management of infection, operative control of hemorrhage and complex wound care cases. Preceptees will observe in the operating room, where they will have an opportunity to participate in active discussions with acute care surgery faculty. Also, attendees will participate in case discussions to enhance decision-making skills and troubleshoot difficult cases. The educational experience will culminate in a hands-on lab exercise, where participants will be challenged to practice what they’ve learned throughout the program.
Who Should Attend
General, trauma and acute care surgeons; wound care physicians; advanced practitioners (NPs, PAs, APNs) with experience in acute care surgery and wound care
Course Features/Topics
- Preceptorship experience will be customized based on attendees’ level of experience and areas of interest
- A maximum of eight preceptees will be accepted per session
- Observation in the OR* with faculty
- Case discussions
– Necrotizing acute soft tissue infection (NASTI)
– Complex open wounds
– Hidradenitis
– Topical negative pressure therapy for complex closed incisions
– Bowel fistula
– Penetrating trauma with solid organ and vascular hemorrhage
– Temporary abdominal closure
– Diabetic foot infection and limb loss
– Osteomyelitis - Hands-on lab
– Temporary abdominal closure utilizing negative pressure
– Utilizing negative pressure and wound lavage for large soft tissue defects
– Application of topical negative pressure therapy
*Observation only. No hands-on experience or patient contact is permitted during these portions of the preceptorship.
Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this program, attendees will be able to:
- Discuss the utilization of negative pressure therapy to facilitate healing of acute soft tissue injury and infection, ultimately as a gateway to primary closure.
- Employ strategies for the management of wounds that cannot be closed with negative pressure to facilitate healing by second intention.
- Employ techniques for temporary abdominal closure.
- Understand the indications and application of topical negative pressure therapy.
Registration/Application
Fee
This educational activity is offered at no cost to participants through funding provided by KCI, An Acelity Company.
Application Process
Due to limited space, interested healthcare providers should complete the application with the options at the top of the page. Applications will be reviewed by the activity co-directors, and applicants will be notified of their acceptance within 3-5 business days.
What Is Included?
- Course registration
- Preceptorship completion certificate
- Parking at Washington University Medical Center/Barnes-Jewish Hospital
- Meals (dinner on Day 1; breakfast/lunch on Day 2)
Travel/Lodging
Flight and hotel accommodations for out-of-town preceptees can be provided by KCI. Miscellaneous travel expenses may also be reimbursed by KCI.
Disclosure Statement
It is the policy of Washington University School of Medicine that faculty who may influence content of this educational activity disclose all relevant financial relationships with commercial interests in order to identify and resolve any potential conflicts of interest prior to the activity. Faculty must also disclose any planned discussion of unlabeled/unapproved uses of drugs or devices during their presentations. Detailed disclosures will be made in activity handout materials.
Disclaimer
This educational activity is designed for use by healthcare professionals for educational purposes only. Presentations are the views and experiences of the course faculty and do not represent the policy or position of Washington University School of Medicine. Participants should use their clinical judgment, knowledge, experience and diagnostic decision-making before applying any information, whether provided here or by others, for any professional use.
Visiting preceptees will be required to sign a letter of agreement with KCI regarding the terms and conditions of participating in the program, and must also submit verification of current vaccinations in order to participate in operating room observation sessions.
Flight and hotel accommodations for out-of-town preceptees can be provided by KCI. Visiting preceptees must make arrangements through KCI’s travel agency. KCI is unable to provide reimbursement for travel arrangements not booked through their travel agency. Instructions for booking travel will be provided upon request.
Although every effort will be made to provide the best clinic and OR observation experience, we cannot guarantee that a fixed number or particular type of surgery will be performed during the Preceptorship dates and cannot be held responsible for surgery or outpatient visit cancellations for any reason. In the event of cancelled surgeries or low case volumes, we will hold didactic sessions with an emphasis on interactive case reviews with expert faculty.
Questions?
Gay Sellers
Phone: (314) 362-1272
Email: sellersgj@wustl.edu