Perioperative Medicine in Action

Week 1: The surgical epidemic Week 2: Risk assessment and shared decision-making? Week 3: Protocols in surgical care Week 4: An age old problem Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This RCoA endorsed course is aimed at all interested healthcare professionals, both medical and allied health professionals. This would include anaesthetists, surgeons, care-of-the-elderly physicians, pre-assessment nurses, surgical ward nurses, operating department staff, physiotherapists and medical managers, emphasising that enhanced care and improved outcomes depend on a multidisciplinary approach. Healthcare professionals might find the the Certificate of Achievement for this course useful for providing evidence of Continuing Professional Development (CPD), or commitment to their career. Although some of the statistics and guidelines are UK specific, the key concepts and learning aims are relevant at an international level. This run of the course will include Spanish translation of course materials / el curso ofrecerá traducción al español. You can use the hashtag #FLPeriopMed to talk about this course on social media.

Topics Covered

Defining the high-risk surgical patient and the need to change the way we care for them
An introduction to perioperative medicine and the Royal College of Anaesthetists vision for improved perioperative care
New perioperative care pathways
The role of risk assessment and risk assessment tools including cardiopulmonary exercise testing and risk scoring systems
Shared decision-making: what it is, why it is so important and how to achieve it.
The principles of enhanced recovery
How healthcare professionals and patients can engage with protocols
Protocols in the care of the emergency surgical patient
The unique perioperative problems of the elderly
How to improve perioperative care for the elderly
The current economic climate and how perioperative medicine is the value proposition

Reviews summary

Essential perioperative medicine for healthcare professionals

According to learners, Perioperative Medicine in Action is a highly relevant and comprehensive course for a broad range of healthcare professionals. Students consistently highlight its multidisciplinary approach and practical insights into improving patient outcomes. The course is praised for its clear presentation of complex topics, including risk assessment, shared decision-making, and enhanced recovery protocols. Many found the dedicated focus on perioperative care for the elderly particularly valuable. While some UK-specific statistics are noted, the key concepts are internationally applicable. The availability of Spanish translation for materials is also a significant positive feature, enhancing accessibility for a wider audience. It's widely considered excellent for Continuing Professional Development (CPD), equipping learners with immediately applicable knowledge.

Materials offered in Spanish, enhancing accessibility for a wider audience.

"The Spanish translation was a huge plus, making it accessible for many of my colleagues who are non-English speakers."

"It's great that the course offers materials in Spanish, broadening its reach to a wider professional community."

"I truly appreciated the effort to provide content in multiple languages, making learning easier for many."

Despite some UK specifics, core principles are universally valuable.

"Some of the statistics were UK-centric, but the core principles and concepts are universally applicable in my country."

"Despite UK-specific guidelines, I found the key concepts and learning aims to be relevant at an international level."

"I was concerned about the UK focus, but I found the course globally relevant for my clinical practice."

Offers actionable strategies and covers essential topics like risk assessment.

"The modules on shared decision-making and care for the elderly were particularly insightful and practical for my daily work."

"I highly appreciated the focus on current protocols and practical risk assessment tools provided in this course."

"I gained practical tools and strategies that I could apply immediately to my work in surgical patient management."

Provides crucial, immediately applicable insights for diverse healthcare roles.

"This is an excellent course for anyone involved in perioperative care; I found the multidisciplinary approach invaluable."

"Very relevant to my practice as a surgeon. The focus on improved patient outcomes and economic value is spot on."

"As a physiotherapist, I found the course highly relevant to improving patient outcomes for my patients."

Provides a strong introduction but may not satisfy advanced learners seeking exhaustive detail.

"This was a decent overview. I found some parts a bit too general given my extensive background in critical care."

"It's a good starting point for beginners, but I wouldn't expect deep dives into every topic; more case studies would help."

"As an experienced professional, I wished for more advanced content beyond what was essentially an introduction to the field."

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Learners who complete Perioperative Medicine in Action will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Perioperative Medicine in Action

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Essential perioperative medicine for healthcare professionals

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