Critical Care Medicine
Saudi Board Program
Critical Care Medicine
Fellowship
A multidisciplinary healthcare specialty that cares for patients with acute, life threatening illness or injury. It is increasingly being recognized as a separate specialty whose practitioners are “intensivists” and whose practice is moving from consult based “open” units, to multidisciplinary “closed” units. There is convincing evidence that closed unit’s intensive care teams who look after all aspects of patient care may further improve outcomes and cost effectiveness. Moreover, it has been shown that the presence of properly trained intensive care physician in the unit significantly reduces morbidity, mortality and cost.
Medical studies suggest a relation between intensive care unit (ICU) volume and quality of care for mechanically ventilated patients. After adjustment for severity of illness, demographic variables, and characteristics of the ICUs (including staffing by intensivists), higher ICU volume was significantly associated with lower ICU and hospital mortality rates.
At present, there are a total of 116 intensive care units (ICU) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with capacity of 2276 total ICU beds in the kingdom. There is a growing need to develop and expand the specialty of Critical Care medicine to meet the challenges encountered in the care of critically ill patients. In the anticipation for the need of properly trained, highly qualified and skilled intensivists, The department of critical care, King Saud University-College of Medicine is going to start KSU Fellowship Program in Critical Care Medicine. Meanwhile, the department of critical care is recognized by the Saudi Council for Medical specializations (SCFHS) as a training center for Saudi Specialty Certificate in critical care medicine and is currently training fellows under this program.
KSU Fellowship Program in Critical Care Medicine is a two-year Post graduate Fellowship Training Program designed to train clinicians, so that they are able to assume consultant’s responsibility for the comprehensive management of critically-ill patients. In addition, the program is being designed to provide specific research career opportunities in critical care medicine.
GENERAL OBJECTIVES:
The overall educational goal of KSU Fellowship Program in Critical Care Medicine is to provide trainees the intellectual environment needed to develop the knowledge, skills, clinical judgment and attitudes necessary for the practice of critical care. Following are the general essentials & objectives:
1. Patient care that is compassionate, appropriate, and effective for the prevention and treatment of acute medical conditions.
2. Medical knowledge about established and evolving biomedical, clinical, and epidemiological and social sciences and the application of this knowledge to patient care.
3. Practice-based learning that involve fellows in the investigation and evaluation of patients’ condition, appraisal and assimilation of scientific evidence underlying new therapeutic modalities.
4. Interpersonal and communication skills that result in effective cooperation with patients, their families, and other health professionals.
5. Professionalism through the commitment to carry out professional responsibilities, adherence to ethical principles and sensitivity to different patients psychosocial conditions.
6. System-based practice that demonstrates an awareness of and responsiveness to the larger context and system health care and the ability to effectively call on system resources to provide optimal patient care.
STRUCTURE OF THE FELLOWSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM
The duration of training will be 24 months. Two fellowship positions will be available each year. During the two-year program, fellows will assigned in clinical rotations managing patients with a broad spectrum of acute conditions and diseases, In addition, they will be exposed to the latest technology including
- Critical Care Ultrasound
- Flexible bronchoscopy
- Echocardiography
- Renal Replacement Therapy
- Minimally Invasive Cardiac Output Monitoring
Fellows will take active role in direct patient care and will participate in weekly departmental activities.The clinical rotations will be mainly at King Khalid University Hospital, however, elective rotation will be allowed in other training centers as approved by program director.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
1. Medical graduate from a medical school recognized by Ministry of Higher Education.
2. Must have completed residency program and must be Saudi Board Certified (or its equivalent) in General Internal Medicine, Anesthesia, Surgery, Emergency Medicine.
3. Medically fit.
4. Must provide three (3) recommendation letters confirming his capabilities.
5. Must pass a personal interview.
6. Must have approval from place of work to join a full time fellowship program for the complete duration of training.
Although not obligatory, it is anticipated that at least six (6) months will have been previously spent in a post with substantial exposure to Critical Care Medicine.
SPECIAL CREDENTIALS:
1. Each trainee should achieve Advance Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) provider status.
2. Each trainee preferably should achieve Instructor’s Status in ACLS.
3. Highly recommended, though not mandatory for the ICU fellows to achieve ATLS and FCCS provider instructor status.
Evaluation
Fellows will be evaluated periodically by the ICU consultants and at the end of the first and second year by a written and clinical exam.
Certification
Upon the completion of the required training program and passing the final certification exam, the fellow will be awarded King Saud University fellowship in Critical Care Medicine.
For more information please do not hesitate to contact us:
| CHAIRMAN | Dr. Ahmad Abdulmohmen |
| PROGRAM DIRECTOR | Dr. Khalid Al Katheeri |
| kkuhkfk@yahoo.com | |
| SECRETARY | narkis.kkuh@yahoo.com / 92264/65 |
