A Journey Through Transfer Medicine
Understanding the complexity and diversity of transfer medicine for critically ill patients across a global landscape.
Duration
4 weeksWeekly study
4 hours
A Journey Through Transfer Medicine
Discover how to keep critically ill patients safe during transfer
Across the world, thousands of critically ill patients are transferred within hospitals and between locations, yet there is little formal training available.
This novel, interactive course is designed to address this gap. You will develop skills and knowledge around transferring critically ill patients across road, air and remote environments. Working with pilots, we have included non-technical skills training, drawing parallels with aviation, and relating these back to medicine. We will explore transfer medicine in specialised settings and hear experts on preparing for these.
Whatever your background, you will learn to plan and execute transfers of critically ill patients safely.
Syllabus
Week 1
Introduction To Transfer Medicine
Welcome!
A short introduction to the course
Why Is Transfer Medicine Important?
In this introductory section, we look at some examples around the world that highlight the need and importance of transfer medicine.
What Is Transfer Medicine?
In this activity, we will try to define "transfer medicine" and explore some of the modes.
Identifying Risks
Critical care transfers pose a well-recognised risk to patients. Learn how to identify risks in this section.
Minimising Risks
In this section, we will examine various strategies to minimise risk in transfer medicine.
Human Factors: An Introduction
An introduction to human factors hosted by WingFactors, a team of airline pilots.
End Of Week Summary
You've reached the end of Week 1! Here, we will summarise the main learning points of the week.
Week 2
A Practical Guide To Transfers
Welcome!
A short introduction to Week 2 - A Practical Guide To Transfers
Transfer Physiology
How does the environment and mode of transport impact our patient? A knowledge of transfer physiology is key before embarking on inter-hospital transfers. Here you will learn some of the fundamentals.
Pre-Transfer Preparation
Preparation is the core of any safe transfer. In this section, we will see a number of videos showing how a team prepares transfers.
Packaging A Patient
In this section, you will learn how to package a patient in a structured way. We invite you to engage in discussion about this important skill!
Before You Depart
From now on, the team has taken over full responsibility of the patient. We discuss the final checks that are performed to ensure a safe transfer.
Critical Incidents During Transfer
What could possibly go wrong? Despite diligent preparation, adverse events do occur during transfers. We will discuss the various types of critical incidents and methods for preventing and managing them, including human factors.
Arriving At The Receiving Hospital
The final stages of a transfer. Safe handover at the destination hospital and the importance of debriefing are explored in this activity.
End Of Week Summary
You have reached the end of Week 2! Here, we will summarise the main learning points of the week.
Week 3
Equipment, Decision Making & Aeromedical Transfers
Welcome!
A short introduction to Week 3 - Equipment & Aeromedical Transfers
Equipment & Technology
A variety of equipment is used in transfer medicine. Here we take a look at what we use and why it matters.
Documentation & Communication
We look at how to document a transfer and why communication matters.
Transfer Decision-Making
Decision-making is a crucial aspect of transfer medicine. In this section we explore some clinical scenarios and discuss the human factors surrounding decision-making.
Aeromedical Transfer & Retrieval Medicine
In this section, we learn about transferring critically ill patients over short and long distances using commercial carriers, helicopters and ambulance jets.
End Of Week Summary
You have reached the end of Week 3! Here, we will summarise the main learning points of the week.
Week 4
Specialist & Extreme Transfers
Welcome!
A short introduction to Week 4 - Specialist & Extreme Transfers
Neurological & Neurosurgical Transfers
How to transfer the brain-injured patient.
Burns Transfers
The challenges of transferring patients with burns.
Bariatric Transfers
There is an increasing need for transfer services to accommodate patients living with obesity. Learn about the specific challenges and solutions in this chapter.
Obstetric Transfers
Learn about transferring patients in the peri-partum period.
Paediatric Transfers
How is the transfer of an infant or child different from that of an adult? Find out in this section.
High Consequence Infectious Diseases (HCID)
Discuss the core principles of transferring patients with HCIDs.
Prone Transfers
How to conduct a transfer with a patient in the prone position.
ECMO Transfers
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a temporary life support technique, used to treat respiratory or cardiac failure. In this section, we hear from specialists about ECMO retrieval.
Remote & Extreme Transfer Medicine
In this section, we will learn how challenging transfers can be in remote environments.
End Of Week Summary
You have reached the end of Week 4! Here, we will summarise the main learning points of the week.
A Future Perspective
We wrap up the learning in this MOOC and take a look into the future of transfer medicine.
When would you like to start?
Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.
Available now
Learning on this course
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Explore the scope of transfer medicine practice and understand the risks involved in transferring critically unwell patients
- Summarise the physiological principles, human factors and relevant guidelines required to optimise a patient, transfer them safely and handle critical incidents
- Assess the importance of equipment and different modes of transport in executing a safe transfer
- Develop an understanding of specialist, unusual and remote situations and specific patient groups who need safe critical transfer
Who is the course for?
This course is designed for all healthcare professionals with an interest in the transfer of critically ill patients.
This includes nurses, paramedics, practitioners and doctors in anaesthesia, critical care, emergency medicine, prehospital medicine and various other disciplines, as well as students in these fields.
Who will you learn with?
Arndt is a consultant anaesthetist at UCLH and retrieval consultant at ACCESS, London. He has set up and led critical transfer services in London and Germany. He was medical lead of an ADAC HEMS base
Riaz is an anaesthetic and intensive care medicine doctor. She holds a diploma in transfer and retrieval medicine and has led digital projects for a transfer service
I'm passionate about transfer medicine, working as an anaesthetic consultant at Cambridge University Hospitals and serve as Education and Training lead for the East of England ACCTS.
Verity is an anaesthetic doctor in London and a Clinical Lecturer at UCL. Having completed a fellowship in Transfer Medicine she now educates for London's Adult Critical Care Transfer Service
Joe is an anaesthetic registrar in London and has completed a fellowship in adult transfer medicine.
Deepshri is an anaesthetic registrar in London, where she did a fellowship with the Children's Acute Transport Service. She has illustrated the graphics that will take you through the course.
Who developed the course?
UCL (University College London)
UCL was founded in 1826. It was the first English university established after Oxford and Cambridge, and the first to open up university education to those previously excluded from it.
Learning on FutureLearn
Your learning, your rules
- Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
- Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
- Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores
Join a global classroom
- Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
- Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
- Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others
Map your progress
- As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
- Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
- Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate
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