Clinical Decision Making in the Care of Persons with Surgical Airways - October 19, 2023
Course description:
This case-based problem-solving course will discuss the medical management of patients with surgical airways and provide learners an opportunity to practice clinical decision making. Case histories will provide insights into post-operative total laryngectomy care and guide decision making related to one-way speaking valve use and stomal attachment needs in tracheostomy and laryngectomy patients.
Course objectives:
1. Analyze considerations to determine candidacy for one-way speaking valve use and readiness for decannulation.
2. Describe troubleshooting solutions for optimizing function in patients’ status post total laryngectomy who struggle to learn care needs.
3. Provide rationale and tools to advocate for medical supplies and devices for surgical airway patients after tracheostomy or laryngectomy.
Webinar recording:
Speakers:
Christopher Brackney, DO
Dr. Chris Brackney is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Critical Care Medicine. He is residency trained in Emergency Medicine / Internal Medicine, completed his Critical Care Medicine fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh in 2009, and has been a faculty member since 2011. He is involved as a clinical educator practicing at VA Pittsburgh and teaching NP’s, medical students, residents and fellows. Dr. Brackney uses high-fidelity simulation (SimMan) to teach the management of the unstable patient. He is the director of the medical student elective in critical care medicine. He co-developed and directs the Emergent Management of the Tracheostomy Patient (SimTrach) workshop. His research includes using micro-simulation to both teach and assess individual practice patterns of providers utilizing mechanical ventilation. He collaborates with Federal and external educational organizations in identifying novel simulation approaches to improve the quality and delivery of critical care medicine.
Disclosure: Christopher Brackney has the following financial relationship or relationship affiliations to disclose: He is employed by VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System/U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and receives a salary. He has no relevant non-financial relationships to disclose.
David Eibling, MD
Similar to many other older surgeons, Dr. Eibling has become passionate about patient safety and the role that system design plays in human performance. He serves as a program co-director of one of 7 VA-funded Interprofessional Fellowships in Patient Safety. He has helped train a number of leaders in patient safety from several disciplines including nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, psychology, and medicine. He commonly lectures on the topics of high reliability, human cognition, and system “diagnosis and treatment.” Prior to the pandemic he actively taught surgical airway safety to all 3rd year medical students at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, with an oft-repeated caveat that in a crisis it is possible they may be the only person present who understands the issues. Along with Dr. Christopher Brackney of Critical Care Medicine (CCM), he co-directs Trach-Sim, a simulation -based airway safety course for CCM fellows that has been judged as valuable by the learners.
Disclosure: David Eibling has the following financial relationship or relationship affiliations to disclose: He is employed by VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System/U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and receives a salary. He has no relevant non-financial relationships to disclose.
Kimberly Eichhorn, MS, CCC-SLP, BC-ANCDS, ATP
Kimberly Eichhorn is the Speech Pathology Program Supervisor for the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System. She has served Veterans with communication and swallowing disorders for over 20 years. She is Board Certified by the Academy of Neurologic Communication Disorders and Sciences and also holds certification as an Assistive Technology Professional. She is the chair of the VHA Gender Affirming Program for Speech which provides virtual voice and communication training for Veterans in transition. Her clinical interests and expertise include the care of persons with surgical airways and incorporating technology into rehabilitation of those with neurocognitive communication disorders. She lectures routinely on specialized topics within the field of Speech-Language Pathology for various medical and allied health disciplines as well as local universities. She has served on several national and local interdisciplinary teams in her clinical work for management of surgical airways and stroke rehabilitation to assist in the development of a variety of polices and best practices.
Disclosure: Kimberly Eichhorn has the following financial relationship or relationship affiliations to disclose: She is employed by VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System/U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and receives a salary. She has no relevant non-financial relationships to disclose.
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