Course Prework
The Difficult Airway Course: Critical Care™ is an advanced course designed for intensivists and for hospitalists who are responsible for emergency airway management of acute inpatients. Taught by a world-class faculty of airway experts, The Difficult Airway Course: Critical Care™ focuses exclusively on the airway challenges posed by critically ill inpatients. The course emphasizes airway assessment and decision-making to build within course participants the capacity to manage all airway situation they encounter — and to do so with great confidence. Participants practice the most important skills and reinforce their learning with Code Airway™ simulations. We encourage all members of the critical care team to join us for this intensive educational experience.

New attendance policy in effect for Fall 2021 courses. Click here for details.

Upcoming Dates and Locations

Denver, CO
October 15 ‐ 17, 2021
We encourage you to call 866-924-7929 or email us at [email protected] to join our waitlist in the event we are able to increase capacity at this course.
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Course Fees:

Regular Tuition:
$1,500 USD
Gold Rate Tuition:
$1,200 USD
For Physician Assistants, Advanced Practice Nurses, Nurses & Respiratory Therapists
Silver Rate Tuition:
$1,100 USD
For Residents, Fellows, and Schumacher Clinical Partners Medical Staff

Tuition includes

Course textbook, The Walls Manual of Emergency Airway Management (© 2018 Wolters Kluwer), and The Airway Card™.

2021 SAMPLE SCHEDULE

Cancellation Policy

2021 COVID Cancellation Policy

If Airway Management Education Center is required to cancel a course due to Federal or State COVID restrictions or other safety concerns, all attendees will receive a 100% refund. Alternatively, they may transfer to another course at no cost.

The standard Cancellation Fee ($100) will be waived for attendees who must cancel for COVID-related reasons.

Note: We are limiting enrollment this year, so it is vitally important that attendees alert us as soon as possible by calling 866-924-7929 if registration must be cancelled so we can allow another person to attend.

There will be no reschedule fees in 2021.

No refunds will be granted to those who do not attend the Course without having made prior arrangements for cancellation or transfer.

Amazing course! Every doctor involved with airway management should take this course. I can clearly assess my strengths and my weaknesses, I feel well prepared to approach the most challenging airways. The hands-on experienced is key to this course! Thank you for a well-organized and enlightening course!

Norma S., DO Houston, TX

You guys knocked it out of the park! Not only was the course highly informative and empowering, but fun and enjoyable as well.

Christopher Battaglia, MD. Buffalo, NY

I loved the warmth and passion of the instructors. Great group and very accessible. Easily one of the best, most practical and fun CME courses I have had in a long time.

Jennifer Mark, MD. Roanoke, VA

Setting the Standard

Highlights of this intensive Course include:

  • How to predict a difficult airway
  • How to prevent a failed airway
  • When — and when NOT — to use medication
  • How to perform an awake intubation
  • Tube exchange and extubation of the difficult airway
  • Front of neck access / cricothyrotomy
  • Practical strategies in crisis management and human factors
  • Hands-on practice with proven airway devices, including video larygoscopy
  • Code Airway™ stations
  • Preparation for challenging acute inpatient scenarios, including:
    • Upper airway obstruction
    • Airway management in the massively obese patient
    • Tracheostomy issues, including accidental dislodgement
    • Agitated hemodynamically unstable patient who self-extubates
    • The bleeding, traumatized, and vomit-filled airway
    • The can’t intubate/can’t ventilate situation
  • Instruction by a world-class faculty of airway experts
  • Dynamic and interactive learning environment

Hands-on Training in Crucial Airway Techniques

  • Percutaneous and surgical cricothyrotomy
  • Direct laryngoscopy and Video laryngoscopy
  • Flexible bronchoscopy and laryngeal mask ventilation
  • Optically enhanced laryngoscopy
  • Extraglottic devices
  • Awake intubation
  • Flexible endoscopic intubation
  • Pediatric airway skills
  • Techniques for the obese patient
  • and more!

Endorsed By:

Accreditation

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of SCP Health and Airway Management Education Center (AMEC). SSCP Health is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
AMA CME Credit

SCP Health designates this live activity for a maximum of 21.25 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Schedule Download PDF

2020 Typical Course Schedule (final schedule distributed on-site)

Day 1

6:30 - 7:30 AM

Registration and Breakfast

7:30 - 8:00 AM

Introduction/Setting the Scene

8:00 - 8:30 AM

Essential Skills in Airway Management

8:30 - 9:00 AM

Airway Anatomy

9:00 - 9:15 AM

Fiberoptic Tour of the Airway

9:15 - 9:30 AM

Break

9:30 - 10:00 AM

Difficult Airway Assessment / Difficult Anatomy

10:00 - 10:30 AM

Dangerous Physiology in Emergency Airway Management

10:30 - 11:15 AM

RSI Pharmacology

11:15 AM - 12:15 PM

Workshops I:
Hands-on: Essential Techniques in Airway Management

Hands-on: Topical Anesthesia, Fiberoptic Bronchoscopy, Video Laryngoscopy

12:15 - 1:15 PM

Panel Lunch
(box lunch provided)

1:15 - 2:15 PM

Workshop I:
Hands-on: Essential Techniques in Airway Management

Hands-on: Topical Anesthesia, Fiberoptic Bronchoscopy, Video Laryngoscopy

2:15 - 3:00 PM

Human Factors I

3:00 - 3:15 PM

Break

3:15 - 5:15 PM

Workshops II:
Hands-on: Tips and Tricks (More Essential Techniques)

Hands-on: Combining Fiberoptic Bronchoscopy and Video Laryngoscopy or EGD

Day 2

6:30 - 7:30 AM

Registration and Breakfast

7:30 - 9:30 AM

Workshops III:
Hands-on: Emergency Surgical Airway

Hands-on: Soiled/Trauma Airway

Workshop: Airway Ultrasound

Workshop: Special Populations (Pediatrics, OB, Neuro)

9:30 - 9:45 AM

Break

9:45 - 11:45 AM

Workshops IV:
Hands-on: Emergency Surgical Airway

Hands-on: Soiled/Trauma Airway

Workshop: Airway Ultrasound

Workshop: Special Populations (Pediatrics, OB, Neuro)

11:45 AM - 1:00 PM

Lunch on Own

1:00 - 2:00 PM

Failed Airway

2:00 - 2:30 PM

Human Factors II

2:30 - 2:45 PM

Break

2:45 - 5:15 PM

Code Airway™ Simulations

Day 3

6:30 7:30 AM

Registration and Breakfast

7:30 - 8:00 AM

Extubation and Airway Exchange Catheters

8:00 - 8:30 AM

Organizational Considerations

8:30 AM - 10:30 AM

Workshops IV:
Post-Op Head and Neck, Tracheal Lesions and Stents

Hands-on: Extubation and Exchange Catheters

10:30 - 11:00 AM

Final Points and Pearls

11:00 - 11:30 AM

Wrap Up: Course Take-Home Messages, Interactive Exam

Excellent overall, incredible teaching staff. This course is a must for all CCM practitioners.
Fredy Toiber, MD
Portland, Oregon
Amazing course! Every doctor involved with airway management should take this course. I can clearly assess my strengths and my weaknesses, I feel well prepared to approach the most challenging airways. The hands-on experienced is key to this course! Thank you for a well-organized and enlightening course!
Norma S., DO
Houston, Texas
I have been in clinical practice as a pulmonary/critical care physician for 23 years, and this is the best (and most applicable) CME class that I have ever taken. The faculty was outstanding. They were extremely knowledgeable and helpful, and they never made me feel uncomfortable while learning new skills. I strongly recommend this course to any provider whose scope of practice includes airway management.
John B. Krueger, MD
Hollywood, Florida
The faculty were incredibly approachable, I enjoyed hearing their experiences and appreciate them sharing their unique approaches to difficult situations. Thank you for making this course available to APNs!
Claire Clouse, APRN
Carmel, Indiana
"You guys knocked it out of the park! Not only was the course highly informative and empowering, but fun and enjoyable as well."
Christopher Battaglia, MD
Buffalo, NY
"I loved the warmth and passion of the instructors. Great group and very accessible. Easily one of the best, most practical and fun CME courses I have had in a long time."
Jennifer Mark, MD
Roanoke, VA

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of the course, the participant will be able to:
1
Express a clear conceptual framework for Difficult Airway management in the critical care and inpatient setting.
2
Identify a rapid and systematic approach for the management of the difficult and failed airway.
3
Recognize devices and techniques needed to manage the difficult and failed airway; and when and how to use them.
4
Be able to perform a cricothyrotomy.
5
Be able to assess and manage a difficult airway extubation.
6
Identify airway management techniques for treating highly infectious viral patients.

Target Audience

The Difficult Airway Course: Critical Care is intended for providers who care for acutely ill in-patients, including Critical Care Specialists,
Intensivists, Hospitalists, Respiratory Therapists and Critical Care Transport providers.

Endorsed by: