UHMS Gulf Coast Chapter Town Hall on Diving Medicine Enduring Material

Course overview

Learner Objectives: The Gulf Coast Chapter of the UHMS continuing education mission is to promote educational activities for physicians and allied health professionals in the local and regional areas based on a needs assessment of the members and on the UHMS Panel of Expert Opinion. These activities will improve the scientific and practical knowledge in the areas of hyperbaric oxygen treatment and diving medicine Objectives: 1. A detailed discussion of the incidence of injury in scuba diving and, through the use of selected case histories, identifies issues/circumstances that can turn an enjoyable recreational scuba dive into a situation resulting in an accident. The presentation includes recommendations on how to identify and mitigate risks making scuba diving safer and more enjoyable. 2. Decompression sickness often occurs in remote locations. In such environments, treatment options and local expertise may be lacking. This presentation covers a description of decompression sickness, diagnostic criteria and treatment options in remote settings. Case examples are provided which reinforce the fluid nature of these cases and factors that may help guide decisions about treatment versus evacuation. 3. There is need to educate physicians about fitness to dive criteria and augment decision making capabilities for complicated cases. Will intend to foster a group discussion of interesting and or complicated fitness to dive questions. 4. Provide ways to assure ATP resupply in ATLS/ACLS efforts to resuscitate seriously ill, or injured patients and provided possible solutions to identify and provide the appropriate treatment protocols. Subject matter: Introduction/CE Requirements Mistakes divers make Managing Decompression Sickness in remote locations Case based discussions on fitness to dive Misconception of AGE treatment in a monoplace chamber Case histories A commercial diver case suggestive of new possibilities for improvement in prehospital ATLS/ACLS Panel Q/A with faculty Teaching Methods: Recorded lectures , Panels, Question & Answer Evaluation Methods: Evaluation is offered at the end of the program through the UHMS website, which evaluates the effectiveness of the meeting, speakers and that no bias was presented, and overall objectives were met. References: UHMS Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Indications, Fifteenth Edition Best Publishing Company - Hyperbaric Medicine Indications Manual, 15th Edition National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 99 Health Care Facilities Code: Recreational Diving Medical Screening System: