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The Difficult Airway Course: Critical Care™ focuses exclusively on the airway challenges posed by critically ill inpatients. This advanced course is designed for intensivists and for hospitalists who are responsible for emergency airway management of acute inpatients. Build mastery and confidence in:
Featuring a dynamic and interactive learning environment, the Course emphasizes airway assessment and decision-making to build the capacity to manage all airway situations — and to do so with great confidence. Read More
Upcoming Dates and Locations
Course Fees:
Regular Tuition:
$1,950 USD
Gold Rate Tuition:
$1,650 USD
For Physician Assistants, Advanced Practice Nurses, Nurses, Respiratory Therapists & Paramedics/EMTs
Silver Rate Tuition:
$1,450 USD
For Residents, Fellows, and SCP Health Medical Staff
Download Boston Schedule
Download San Diego Schedule
We understand that plans can change for many reasons, resulting in the need to change your registration. To ensure fairness and transparency, we’ve developed policies that are as accommodating as possible. Our Cancellation and Transfer policies are summarized below – please click here to see the full text of these.
Cancellation
The following fee schedule applies to all cancellations regardless of the reason for cancellation:
- Cancellations requested 14 days or more prior to the course start date will receive a 90% refund
- Cancellations requested 2 – 14 days prior to the course start date will receive a 50% refund
- No refunds will be issued for cancellations requested within 2 days of the course start date, or to registrants who do not attend the course and fail to make prior arrangements to change their registration.
Transfer
Alternately, registrants may transfer their registration with a 100% tuition credit under the following terms:
- Transfers requested more than 7 days prior to the course start date may be transferred with no fee.
- Transfer requested within 7 days of the course start date will be charged a $200 Administrative fee.
- Transfer credits are valid through December 31 of the calendar year following the transfer request.
All cancellation and transfer requests must be made in writing to registrations@theairwaysite.com before the start of the course.
AMEC does not waive the fees outlined above due to natural disasters, weather-related problems, travel delays, government shutdowns or similar events beyond our control.
In the unlikely event AMEC is required to cancel a course, all attendees will receive a 100% refund or may transfer to another course.
See our full Cancellation, Transfer and General Course Policies here.
A true highlight is the engagement of the faculty and their willingness to share their experience and tricks. While the hands-on sessions were valuable for getting to touch and work with the different equipment, interacting with the faculty during these sessions was one of the highest yield elements of the course.
Attendee, Denver, 2021
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
Highlights include:
- Front of neck access / cricothyrotomy
- 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 in Crucial Airway Techniques:
- Percutaneous and surgical cricothyrotomy
- Video laryngoscopy
- Awake intubation
- Flexible bronchoscopy and laryngeal mask ventilation
- Optically enhanced laryngoscopy
- Extraglottic devices
- Flexible endoscopic intubation
- Pediatric airway skills
- Techniques for the obese patient
Tuition Includes:
Course textbook, Manual of Airway Management in Critical Care, 1st edition
(© 2024 Wolters Kluwer), and The Airway Card™.
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). SCP Health is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
2025 AMA Credit
SCP Health designates this live activity for a maximum of 20.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
AOA Credit Statement
The American Osteopathic Association accepts for AOA Category 2 credit activities designated for AMA PRA Category 1™ Credit from organizations accredited by ACCME (Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education) and programs approved by AAFP (American Academy of Family Physicians) for Prescribed or Elective credit.
2026 Accreditation Information
Please check back, accreditation information will be updated as it is received.
Schedule
Jump to San Diego Course Schedule
Boston 2026 General Course Schedule (final schedule distributed on-site) Download PDF
Day 1 (Boston Only)
6:30 - 7:30 AM
Registration and Breakfast
7:30 - 8:00 AM
Introduction/Setting the Scene
8:00 - 9:00 AM
Essential Skills in Airway Management
9:00 - 9:15 AM
Fiberoptic Tour of the Airway
9:15 - 9:30 AM
Break
9:30 - 11:30 AM
Hands-On Workshops (Rotation)
Direct Laryngoscopy / Video Laryngoscopy
Bag Mask Ventilation (BMV), Extraglottic Airways (EGD)
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Lunch on Your Own
12:30 - 1:00 PM
Difficult Assessment
1:00 - 2:00 PM
Dangerous Physiology
2:00 - 2:45 PM
RSI Pharmacology
2:45 - 3:00 PM
Break
3:00- 5:00 PM
Code Airway™ Stations
Day 2 (Boston Only)
6:30 - 7:30 AM
Registration and Breakfast
7:30 - 8:50 AM
Hands-On Workshops (Rotation)
Soiled Airway
Airway Ultrasound
8:50 - 9:05 AM
Break
9:05 - 10:25 AM
Hands-On Workshops (Rotation)
Soiled Airway
Airway Ultrasound
10:25 - 11:55 AM
Failed Airway with Surgical Cricothyrotomy Lab
11:55 AM - 1:15 pm
Panel Lunch (provided)
1:15- 2:45PM
Hands-on Workshops (Rotation)
Code Airway I
Flexible Endoscopy
2:45- 3:00 PM
Break
3:00- 4:30 PM
Hands-on Workshops (Rotation)
Code Airway I
Flexible Endoscopy
Day 3 (Boston Only)
6:30 - 7:30 AM
Registration and Breakfast
7:30 - 8:30 AM
Human Factors
8:30 AM - 9:00 AM
Exchange Catheters
9:00 - 11:00 AM
Breakout Sessions (Rotation)
Altered Airway
Hands-On Workshop: Extubation and Exchange Catheters
11:00 - 11:30 AM
Final Points & Pearls, Wrap-Up/Post-Test
SAN DIEGO 2026 General Course Schedule (final schedule distributed on-site) Download PDF
Day 1 (San Diego Only)
6:30 - 7:30 AM
Registration / Breakfast / Exhibits
7:30 - 8:00 AM
Introduction / Setting the Scene
8:00 - 9:00 AM
Essential Skills in Airway Management
9:00 - 9:15 AM
Fiberoptic Tour of the Airway
9:15 - 9:30 AM
Break
9:30 - 10:00 AM
Difficult Airway Assessment
10:00 - 11:00 AM
Dangerous Physiology
11:00 - 11:45 AM
RSI Pharmacology
11:45 AM - 12:45 PM
Lunch on Your Own
12:45 - 2:45 PM
Hands-on Sessions (Rotation)
Code Airway Stations
Direct Laryngoscopy / Video Laryngoscopy
Bag Mask Ventilation (BMV) / Extraglottic Airways (EGD)
2:45 - 3:00 PM
Break
3:00 - 5:00 PM
Hands-on Sessions (Rotation)
Code Airway Stations
Direct Laryngoscopy / Video Laryngoscopy
Bag Mask Ventilation (BMV) / Extraglottic Airways (EGD)
Day 2 (San Diego Only)
6:30 - 7:30 AM
Registration / Breakfast / Exhibits
7:30 - 9:00 AM
Failed Airway with Surgical Cricothyrotomy Lab
9:00 - 9:15 AM
Break
9:15 - 9:45 AM
Exchange Catheters
9:45 - 11:45 AM
Breakout Sessions (Rotation)
Altered Airway
Hands-on Workshop: Extubation and Airway Exchange Catheters
11:45 AM - 1:15 PM
Panel Lunch (Provided)
1:15 - 3:55 PM
Hands-On Workshops (Rotation)
Soiled Airway
Airway Ultrasound
Flexible Endoscopy
3:55 - 4:15 PM
Break
4:15 - 5:30 PM
Hands-On Workshops (Rotation)
Soiled Airway
Airway Ultrasound
Flexible Endoscopy
Day 3 (San Diego Only)
6:30 - 7:30 AM
Registration / Breakfast / Exhibits
7:30 - 8:30 AM
Human Factors
8:30 - 11:00 AM
Hands-On Workshops (Rotation)
Code Airway I
Extra Skills Practice
11:00 - 11:30 AM
Final Points & Pearls, Wrap-up / Post-Test
This was truly an unparallelled opportunity to learn and train the best approaches to any airway. Operating the vast array of airway devices and tools was invaluable. The faculty were knowledgeable, personable, efficient, and entertaining. This weekend was worth every penny! Excellent course all around!
Ronnie Tisdale, MD, MPH
Selma, AL
This course has forever changed my approach to airway management. It was amazing to see how fast the field of airway research had evolved since residency. Now I know why my colleagues say this course is the top way to learn difficult airway management!
Joseph Reardon, MD
Greenville, SC
Absolutely amazing course! The hands-on part is great, faculty are very involved in helping you, giving you tips, answering questions. Truly passionate people, great quality course!
Samantha Dion-Shields, MD
Quebec, Canada
This course is a vital part of my anesthetic practice. After over 20 years experience, I always appreciate the content and hands-on skill stations to refine my practice every 5 years or so. I always come out of this course a better clinician and will continue to attend as long as I am practicing. The best conference I have ever attended hands down!
Lisa Harrison, CRNA
Vancouver, WA
"Hands-down the best conference I have ever attended. Excellent lectures, small group discussions, and interactive stations. Thanks for all your hard work. It clearly shows in this course."
Attendee, San Diego 2021
"Fantastic course! The whole program was extremely well done and taught me so much. Well worth the cost!"
Norman McGowin, III, MD
Greenville, AL
I attended the course in Houston and found it to be fantastic! It completely exceeded my expectations and turned out to be well worth the trip from Vancouver. The crew in Houston do a wonderful job and besides the valuable learning experience were entertaining as well.
Tyler Keys
Vancouver, British Columbia
Have learnt some incredible skills and techniques that I wish I'd been shown sooner in my career.
Jonathan Search
Gloucestershire, United Kingdom
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
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.
Intensivists, Hospitalists, Respiratory Therapists and Critical Care Transport providers.