Advanced Procedures & Human Cadaver Lab

This pre-conference educational offering intended to further the education and training of emergency medicine professionals in critical, invasive procedures.

Although these procedures are life-saving, many providers will perform them infrequently in clinical practice due to their invasive nature.  The discussion and instruction will focus on introducing or retraining attendees to perform a number of critical care invasive procedures. This forum will help participants build on and maintain their clinical skills.

location

UCSD School of Medicine

10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Advances in PAH (Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension): What NPs, PAs, and Nurses Need to Know to improve care

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a highly complex condition that is challenging to manage. This lecture will review the pathophysiology and classification of PAH, the association of PAH with scleroderma spectrum disorder and methamphetamine use, treatment pathways and therapies, and strategies for addressing common side effects. Disparities in care also will be highlighted.

Sandra Lombardi, RN, has been the Clinical Care Coordinator for the University of California, San Diego Pulmonary Vascular Program for the past 15 years. This institution is a national referral center that is internationally recognized as a Center of Excellence by the American College of Clinical Pharmacy. Sandra has more than 30 years of experience in pulmonary and critical care, the last 20 of which has focused on pulmonary hypertension. Ms. Lombardi has been involved with direct management of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) patients through her work with Accredo Health Services, in which she participated in teaching PAH patients about home IV epoprostenol and IV/SQ treprostinil use as well as inhaled therapies. She also interacts extensively with case managers and insurance companies in getting approval for PAH medication for patients. She has been a sub-investigator in multiple clinical trials involving the treatment of PAH and the impact of the disease on patients and their families.

Critical Crossroads: A Case-Based Journey Through Pediatric Emergencies

Dr. Harvey will present pediatric emergency case studies focused on the following objectives:

1. Recognize key clinical features of high-acuity pediatric emergencies that require timely intervention.

2. Analyze critical decision points in evolving pediatric emergency scenarios using a case-based approach.

3. Evaluate the potential outcomes of different management pathways using an interactive case format.

4. And, reflect on personal and team-based approaches to pediatric emergency decision-making and communication under pressure.

Hazards in the Home Part Two: Home Remedies

Dr. Justin Seltzer builds on last year’s presentation on Hazards in the Home, focusing on exposures to over the counter/ home remedies like pain creams, topical essential oils, and bath salts.

Sex Mints and Skinny Shots: Understanding Emerging Drug Trends in Emergency Nursing

From weight loss shots to testosterone and peppermint-flavored Viagra, patients are increasingly turning to aesthetic and performance-enhancing drugs, sometimes sourced from online clinics, med spas, and compounding pharmacies. This session dives into the pharmacology, risks, and real-world implications of popular medications like GLP-1 agonists and testosterone replacement therapy, many of which are sometimes being used without traditional medical oversight.

Emergency providers are now encountering a new wave of adverse drug effects such as delayed gastric emptying, refractory nausea and unexpected cardiac events. Join this fast-paced, clinically focused session to better understand the mechanisms behind these medications, how to spot red flags in patient presentations, and how to educate patients in a way that balances harm reduction with honest dialogue.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand pharmacologic mechanisms and intended effects of TRT and GLP-1 agonists.

• Identify both common and severe side effects of TRT and GLP-1 agonists.

• Recognize the impact of GLP-1 agonists on gastric emptying and the clinical sequelae.

• Assess medication histories for less obvious or patient-minimized drug use.

• Apply effective strategies to educate patients about risks and expectations.

• Enhance preparedness for managing acute presentations related to these medications.

Tobin brings over 20 years of stretcher-side and leadership experience in critical care, emergency, and transport nursing, including ground, air, and cruise ship roles. A respected educator, he presents nationally on complex clinical topics with clarity and impact. He currently serves as the critical care clinical education specialist for a large transport program and works part-time with cardiology implanted device patients. Tobin holds a doctorate in nursing practice and has completed research focused on reducing high-risk, low-frequency errors in flight nursing. He is certified in emergency, critical care, and flight nursing, and contributes to several core transport nursing textbooks.

Non Accidental Trauma in Infants

Dr. Wiengand will present on non-accidental trauma in infants identifying signs and symptoms of abusive head trauma in infants. Attendees will learn how to differentiate common accidental head injuries from those more consistent with non-accidental trauma, demonstrate appropriate prehospital management of suspected pediatric brain injury, and to further understand the pathophysiology, common imaging findings, and long term outcomes in abusive head trauma.

Dr. Wiengand is an Assistant Clinical Professor, Child Neurology at University of California, San Diego.

Hands-On Learning Labs

These Learning Labs are designed to provide conference attendees an in-depth, focused training session with “hands-on” practical sessions. There will be two labs on each topic, during registration you can sign up for which session you are interested in - first come, first served.

Neonatal Resuscitation

The Neonatal ICU Emergency Transport Team from Rady Children’s Hospital leads this hands-on session focusing on the first hour of care of the newborn infant. This class includes neonatal resuscitation and practical application of the critical care skills used.

EKG Interpretation

Presented by Dr. Christian McClung, this hands-on, interactive course will start with a review of how to approach 12-lead EKG interpretation. Open to all levels of experience, scenarios and rhythm strips based on actual patient encounters will guide discussion of pre-hospital and hospital treatments.