UPMC Urgent Care Advanced Practice Provider: Critical Care Transition to Practice

With every new hire Advanced Practice Provider (APP), regardless of their experience, a gap exists between what the APP knows at the time of hire and what they must know to be safe, competent, and successful in their role. This is referred to as the transition gap. Critical care medicine education is not a topic that is frequently covered in all APP education and most APPs are not prepared to transition as a new graduate into a competent role as an independent practitioner. APPs working in Critical Care Medicine work in very autonomous, full scope of practice positions caring for critically ill patients. The job requires advanced abilities in clinical decision making and procedure competency. This creates a steep learning curve that can significantly impair the APPs’ clinical confidence.

Transitioning to practice can be challenging and costly for new APP graduates as they enter their first year of employment. The Critical Care Medicine Service Line does not provide a consistent learning program to support APPs during this experience. The Critical Care Medicine APP TTP aims to provide didactic, observational, and experiential learning opportunities for all new APP graduates with less than one year of experience hired into the Critical Care Medicine Service Line. Additionally, all Critical Care Medicine APPs can opt into any portion of the TTP to meet learning needs identified by the APP and/or an APP supervisor.

Target Audience

The target audience for this training is practicing physicians, nurses, physician assistants and other healthcare or academic professionals. The Critical Care Medicine APP TTP aims to provide didactic, observational, and experiential learning opportunities for all new APP graduates with less than one year of experience hired into the Critical Care Medicine Service Line.

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this continuing education program, the participant should be able to:

  • Define key components of APP Professional Practice.
  • Identify key components of critically ill patients and develop therapeutic plans.
  • Diagnose key components of critically ill patients and develop therapeutic plans.
  • Manage key components of critically ill patients and develop therapeutic plans.
  • Modify the patient's plan of care based on critical changes.
  • Improve skills to provide optimal and methodological work up.
  • Deliver care to the critically ill patient.
  • Communicate effectively by demonstrating empathy and respectful behavior when interacting with patients.
  • Communicate effectively by demonstrating empathy and respectful behavior when interacting with family.
  • Communicate effectively by demonstrating empathy and respectful behavior when interacting with interdisciplinary teams.
  • Apply knowledge and skill of basic daily practice.

Disclaimer Statement:

The information presented at this activity represents the views and opinions of the individual presenters, and does not constitute the opinion or endorsement of, or promotion by, the UPMC Center for Continuing Education in the Health Sciences, UPMC / University of Pittsburgh Medical Center or Affiliates and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.  Reasonable efforts have been taken intending for educational subject matter to be presented in a balanced, unbiased fashion and in compliance with regulatory requirements. However, each program attendee must always use his/her own personal and professional judgment when considering further application of this information, particularly as it may relate to patient diagnostic or treatment decisions including, without limitation, FDA-approved uses and any off-label uses.

Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 35.00 AAPA Category I CME
    • 8.00 Pharmacotherapeutic
  • 35.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
    The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
    • 8.00 Pharmacotherapeutic
  • 35.00 ANCC
    UPMC Provider Unit is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation
    • 8.00 Pharmacotherapeutic
  • 35.00 Attendance
    • 8.00 Pharmacotherapeutic
Course opens: 
01/27/2025
Course expires: 
01/27/2028
University of Pittsburgh Instructure Learning Platform
United States

Faculty:

Planning Committee:

  • Robert Bauer, MSN, CRNP, AG-ACNP-BC - Advanced Practice Provider, Magee Adult ICU, Lead Advanced Practice Provider- UPMC Magee Adult ICU, Education Co-Director, Critical Care Medicine Adult Division, Advanced Practice Provider Program, Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh
  • Erika Bassett, PA-C  - Advanced Practice Provider, Neurovascular and Neurotrauma ICUs, Lead APP Neurovascular and Neurotrauma ICUs, Co-director, Operations, Quality and Safety, Adjunct Faculty, Department of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Pittsburgh, Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh
  • Catherine (Katie) Watson, DNP, CRNP, AG-ACNP-BC - Expert, CCM/Intensivists, UPMC Hamot
  • Kameron M. Page, PA-C – Supervisor, PA, UPMC Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine

Course Directors and Topics:

Module 1: Common ICU Problems

Sepsis - System Guidelines - Kyle A.  Long, MD – Critical Care Medicine, UPMC Hamot

Vasopressor - Carlos Racedo Africano, MD - Department of Critical Care, Associate Director of Critical Care, Director of Critical Care Education, Research and Outreach, UPMC Hamot

ABG – Sean Dent, CRNP – Expert, CCM/Intensivists, UPMC.

COPD Exacerbation – Mihir Buch, DO – Pulmonologist, UPMC Hamot Comprehensive Lung Center

Sedation/Analgesia – Michelle LipskiPharmD, BCCCP – Critical Care Clinical Pharmacy Specialist at UPMC Hamot

Mechanical Ventilation Lectures Pt 1-6 – Lauren Spiegel Tomsic, MHS, PA-C – Senior, Physician Assistant, Pulmonary, CC Med, UPMC

 

Module 2:  Professional Development

Billing/Coding/Documentation – Termiology – Erika Bassett, PA-C - Advanced Practice Provider, Neurovascular and Neurotrauma ICUs, Lead APP Neurovascular and Neurotrauma ICUs, Co-director, Operations, Quality and Safety, Adjunct Faculty, Department of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Pittsburgh, Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh

Organizational Information – Benjamin R. Reynolds, MSPAS, PA-C, DFAAPA -Chief Advanced Practice Officer, UPMC; Director, UPMC Office of Advanced Practice Providers; Co-Director, University of Pittsburgh Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education; Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical School

Recertification NP – Robert Bauer, MSN, CRNP, AG-ACNP-BC  - Advanced Practice Provider, Magee Adult ICU, Lead Advanced Practice Provider- UPMC Magee Adult ICU, Education Co-Director, Critical Care Medicine Adult Division, Advanced Practice Provider Program, Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh

Recertification PA – Erika Bassett, PA-C - Advanced Practice Provider, Neurovascular and Neurotrauma ICUs, Lead APP Neurovascular and Neurotrauma ICUs, Co-director, Operations, Quality and Safety, Adjunct Faculty, Department of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Pittsburgh, Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh

UPMC APP Clinical Ladder – Catherine (Katie) Watson, DNP, CRNP, AG-ACNP-BC - Expert, CCM/Intensivists, UPMC Hamot

Mentor Me – Danielle Gourley, DNP, APRN, BC, ADM-BC – Expert CRNP, Endocrinology, UPMC

 

Module 3:  Neurological

Sedation/Analgesia – Michelle LipskiPharmD, BCCCP – Critical Care Clinical Pharmacy Specialist at UPMC Hamot

Altered Mental Status – Logan Pyle, MD – Director of Neurocritical Care at UPMC Hamot Neurology

Delirium – Nicole Bennett, CRNP – Senior CRNP, CCM/Intensivists, UPMC

Ischemic Stroke – Erika Bassett, PA-C - Advanced Practice Provider, Neurovascular and Neurotrauma ICUs, Lead APP Neurovascular and Neurotrauma ICUs, Co-director, Operations, Quality and Safety, Adjunct Faculty, Department of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Pittsburgh, Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh

Status Epilepticus and EEG Basics – Patrick Coppler, PA-C, FNCS- Expert Physician Assistant, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh.

EVD/Bolt and SAH – Estefany Elizabeth Villalobos, PA-C - Physician Assistant, Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh

Brain Death and ICH – Kaitlen Morgan, DNP, ACNP-BC, CRNP – Lead Advanced Practice Provider, Neurovascular and Neurotrauma ICUs, Expert, Advanced Practice Provider, Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh

SCI – Brady John Bielewicz, DNP, CRNP, CNS, CCRN, TCRN - Assistant Professor, Coordinator, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Program, Acute & Tertiary Care, University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing

 

Module 4: Cardiovascular

Shock States - Heidi Storer, DO - Critical Care Medicine, UPMC Hamot Pulmonology-Critical Care Instensivists

Vasopressor Therapy – Carlos Racedo Africano, MD - Department of Critical Care, Associate Director of Critical Care, Director of Critical Care Education, Research and Outreach, UPMC Hamot

Cardiac Arrest/Code Blue – Katie Stonesifer, CRNP - Nurse Practitioner at Pinnacle Health Hospital

Post Cardiac Arrest Care – Cecelia Ratay - DNP, CRNP,  Senior Nurse Practitioner, Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh

Acute MI – James Byass-RascoeMS, CRNP, AGACNP-BC, CCRN - Advanced Practice Provider, Surgical ICU, Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh.

Decompensated CHF/Pulmonary Edema & PA Catheter Interpretation – Abigail Ferry, PA-C - Senior Physician Assistant, Department of Critical Care Medicine, UPMC Presbyterian Hospital, CTICU 

MCS (IABP, Intro ECMO) – Matthew Welles, MD – Critical Care Medicine, Sentara Medical Group, Norfolk, VA

Module 5: Respiratory

NIPPV - Erica Racedo, PA-C- Expert, Physician Assistant, Critical Care Medicine, UPMC

Oxygen Therapy – Robert Bauer, MSN, CRNP, AG-ACNP-BC  - Advanced Practice Provider, Magee Adult ICU, Lead Advanced Practice Provider- UPMC Magee Adult ICU, Education Co-Director, Critical Care Medicine Adult Division, Advanced Practice Provider Program, Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh

Acute Respiratory Failure – Daniel Michael Weiss, PA-C – Physician Assistant, Pulmonology, UPMC

ARDS – Zachary Messina, DO - Pulmonary Critical Care, UPMC

Ventilator Mgmt/Trouble Shooting – Heidi Storer, DO - Critical Care Medicine, UPMC Hamot Pulmonology-Critical Care Instensivists 

Asthama/Status Asthmaticus – Kyle A.  Long, MD – Critical Care Medicine, UPMC Hamot 

MCS (IABP, Intro ECMO) – Matthew Welles, MD – Critical Care Medicine, Sentara Medical Group, Norfolk, VA

 

Module 6:  Gastrointestinal

GI Bleed – Jennifer Kundick, PA-C - Advanced Practice Provider, Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh

Acute Liver Failure –Lindsey Cornman, MSN, CRNP– Senior Advanced Practice Provider, Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh

Toxicology Emergencies – Emily Plugis, PA-C - Physician Assistant Sr, Night, Magee Womens Hospital, UPMC

ETOH Hepatitis – Elizabeth Rozier, CRNP - CRNP Sr, Critical Care Medicine, UPMC

Pancreatitis – Brady Bielewicz, DNP, CRNP, CNS, CCRN, TCRN - Assistant Professor,  Coordinator, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Program, Acute & Tertiary Care, University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing

Acute Abdomen – Zachary Messina, DO - Pulmonary Critical Care, UPMC

Chronic Liver Failure/HRS – Daniel Michael Weiss, PA-C – Physician Assistant, Pulmonology, UPMC

 

Module 7:  Renal

AKI & Hyponatremia –  Robert Bauer, MSN, CRNP, AG-ACNP-BC  - Advanced Practice Provider, Magee Adult ICU, Lead Advanced Practice Provider- UPMC Magee Adult ICU, Education Co-Director, Critical Care Medicine Adult Division, Advanced Practice Provider Program, Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh

 

Module 8: Infectious Disease Week

Antibiotic Basics – Christine Zdaniewski, PharmD, BCPS – Critical Care Clinical Pharmacy Specialist

Sepsis – Kyle A.  Long, MD – Critical Care Medicine, UPMC Hamot

 

Module 9: Endocrine Week

Endo Emergencies - Andres Mora, APRN, AGACNP-BC, CCRN – Advent Health Medical Group, Infectious Disease Consultants, Orlando, FL

DKA –Katie Mcguire, PA-C - Supervisor, Advanced Practice Provider CCM/Intensivists, UPMC

 

Module 10:  FEN Week

Nutrition – Brady Bielewicz, DNP, CRNP, CNS, CCRN, TCRN - Assistant Professor,  Coordinator, Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Program, Acute & Tertiary Care, University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing

Electrolyte Replacement – Robert Bauer, MSN, CRNP, AG-ACNP-BC  - Advanced Practice Provider, Magee Adult ICU, Lead Advanced Practice Provider- UPMC Magee Adult ICU, Education Co-Director, Critical Care Medicine Adult Division, Advanced Practice Provider Program, Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh

 

Module 11:  Mix Bag Week

GOC/Communication – Robert Bauer, MSN, CRNP, AG-ACNP-BC  - Advanced Practice Provider, Magee Adult ICU, Lead Advanced Practice Provider- UPMC Magee Adult ICU, Education Co-Director, Critical Care Medicine Adult Division, Advanced Practice Provider Program, Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh

POCUS Basics – Carlos Racedo Africano, MD - Department of Critical Care, Associate Director of Critical Care, Director of Critical Care Education, Research and Outreach, UPMC Hamot

 

Module 12:  Obstetrics

Physiologic Changes – Charles Warner, DNP, MBA, CRNP, AG-ACNP-BC - Expert Nurse Practitioner, Department of Critical Care Medicine

Post Partum Hemorrhage – Heather Becker, CRNP – Expert, CRNP, UPMC Magee Womens Hospital

HTN Disorder of Pregnancy & Maternal Cardiac Arrest – Robert Bauer, MSN, CRNP, AG-ACNP-BC  - Advanced Practice Provider, Magee Adult ICU, Lead Advanced Practice Provider- UPMC Magee Adult ICU, Education Co-Director, Critical Care Medicine Adult Division, Advanced Practice Provider Program, Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh

Conflict of Interest Disclosure:

No planners, members of the planning committee, speakers, presenters, authors, content reviewers and/or anyone else in a position to control the content of this education activity have relevant financial relationships to disclose.

 

In support of improving patient care, the University of Pittsburgh is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) and the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Physician (CME)
The University of Pittsburgh designates this enduring material activity for a maximum of 35.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit[s]™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nursing (CNE)
The maximum number of hours awarded for this Continuing Nursing Education activity is 35.0 contact hours.

Physician Assistant (AAPA)
The University of Pittsburgh has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 35.0 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.  

Other health care professionals will receive a certificate of attendance confirming the number of contact hours commensurate with the extent of participation in this activity.

Available Credit

  • 35.00 AAPA Category I CME
    • 8.00 Pharmacotherapeutic
  • 35.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
    The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
    • 8.00 Pharmacotherapeutic
  • 35.00 ANCC
    UPMC Provider Unit is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation
    • 8.00 Pharmacotherapeutic
  • 35.00 Attendance
    • 8.00 Pharmacotherapeutic
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