The Theme of EPICC

Self & Teams
This objective assists the learner is discovering their role within a team and how they communicate within those teams.
Planning Care
This objective relates to the planning around the care of the Emergency Department patient.  Care planning focuses on the identification of problems, objective outcome measures and planning steps for achieving the outcomes.
Search for Failure Points
Learning from other high-stakes industries, the approach to every situation seeking out gaps in care or communication to ensure the safest patient care possible.
It is important to understand the differentiation between high-fidelity and high-technology.  High-fidelity is the realism of a situation, high-technology is the ‘fanciness’ of simulation mannikins.  EPICC uses high-fidelity simulation and in some environments may incorporate high-technology mannikins. EPICC uses evidence-based learning and assessment methods to fully engage the adult learner.  Theoretical content is learned online before attending the courses. The courses use mixed learning methods of small and large group case studies and simulation – there is no powerpoint-style learning at the attended sessions.  We believe in leveraging the “community”…when everyone is together at a course, we believe that learners should be interacting, not watching lectures.
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EPICC-Foundations

Course Scope and Objectives
This program is based on the National Emergency Nurses Association (NENA) Core Competencies of the Emergency Nurse.  These Core Competencies are available on the NENA website at www.nena.ca.  The course focuses on the Emergency care of the adult and the basic concepts of some pediatric variations in emergency care.
Course Purpose
The purpose of the course is to provide a standardized approach to the emergency department patient with a variety of presentations.  In addition to discussing presenting complaint pathophysiology and standardized treatment, a focus will be placed on rapid plans of care, follow-up assessments and formats to communicate clinical data to other nurses and health care professionals.
Course Participants
The intended participants for this course are Nurses working in (or interested in working in) the Emergency Department.  Other professions and emergency department staff are welcome to attend the EPICC; however, only Nurses can receive certification in the course.
Course Format
The course is a mixture of pre-course online modules, classroom, small group case practice/discussion and psychomotor skill stations covering the following topics:
  • The Unconscious Patient
  • Multi-Trauma
  • Chest Pain/Myocardial Infarction
  • COPD/Congestive Heart Failure
  • Anaphylaxis
  • Sepsis
  • Diabetic Ketoacidosis
  • Stroke
  • Pharmacology
  • Communication and Teamwork
  • Pain
  • Airway, Breathing and Circulation Interventions
Course Length and Evaluation
The online pre-course content can take anywhere from 4-8 hours depending on the level of detail sought.  The attended portion of the class is two days in length.  There is no written exam; however, there is an individualized evaluation process throughout the course.

EPICC-Trauma

Course Scope and Objectives
This program is based on the Trauma-specific National Emergency Nurses Association (NENA) Core Competencies of the Emergency Nurse.  These Core Competencies are available on the NENA website at www.nena.ca.  The course focuses on the Emergency department trauma care of the adult patient.
Course Purpose
The purpose of the course is to provide a standardized approach to the trauma patient with a variety of presentations.  This course does not only focus on the resuscitation of the patient but goes further into ongoing care and identifying gaps in care common to this population.
Course Participants
The intended participants for this course are Nurses working in (or interested in working in) the Emergency Department.  Other professions and emergency department staff are welcome to attend the EPICC; however, only Nurses can receive certification in the course.
Course Format
The course is a mixture of pre-course online modules, classroom, small group case practice/discussion and psychomotor skill stations covering the following topics: Pre-Course Learning Includes:
EPICC CORE CONTENT
This content is a part of both the Foundations and Trauma Programs
  • Introduction to the EPICC Programs
  • EPICC Assessment Framework
  • Communication, Teamwork and Resource Management
  • Airway, Ventilation, Oxygenation Skills (includes RSI Theory and Video Demonstration)
  • Vascular Access
  • Infection Control
EPICC-TRAUMA CORE CONTENT
  • Trauma Systems and Accreditation
  • Injury Prevention
  • Biomechanics and Mechanism of Injury
  • Trauma Resuscitation
  • Shock
EPICC-TRAUMA BODY SYSTEMS
  • Head and Brain Trauma
  • Thoracic Trauma
  • Abdominal Trauma
  • Musculoskeletal Trauma
  • Skin Trauma / Burns
  • Spine and Spinal Cord Trauma
EPICC-TRAUMA INTERVENTIONS AND COMPLICATIONS
  • Acute Pain in Trauma
  • Trauma Diagnostics
  • Complications of Trauma
  • Trendy Trends in Trauma Care
EPICC-TRAUMA PATIENT POPULATIONS
  • Pediatric Trauma
  • Geriatric Trauma
  • Obstetrical Trauma
  • Hyperthermia/Hypothermia
  • Decompression Injury
The in-person session will focus on simulation, small and large group discussions about patient presentations and issues common to the emergency department environment.
Course Length and Evaluation
The online pre-course content can take anywhere from 8-12 hours depending on the level of detail sought.  The attended portion of the class is one day in length and requires current EPICC-Foundations certification as a pre-requisite.  There is no written exam; however, there is an individualized evaluation process throughout the course.

EPICC-Pediatrics

Course Scope and Objectives
This program is based on the most common presentations in the pediatric population seen throughout emergency departments in Canada as well as to identify and address the most common concerns of the adult emergency nurse when caring for the pediatric population.
Course Purpose
The purpose of the course is to provide a standardized approach to the pediatric patient, focusing on the assessment, skills, ongoing care, and gaps in care common to this population.
Course Participants
The intended participants for this course are Nurses working in (or interested in working in) a primarily adult care emergency department where pediatric patients present but are not the majority of the patient population. Other professions and emergency department staff are welcome to attend; however, only Nurses can receive certification in the course.
Course Format
The course is a mixture of pre-course online modules, classroom, small group case practice/discussion, and psychomotor skill stations covering the following topics:
Pre-Course Learning
EPICC CORE CONTENT
This content is a part of the Foundations, Trauma and Pediatrics Programs
  • Introduction to the EPICC Programs
  • EPICC Assessment Framework
  • Communication, Teamwork and Crisis Resource Management Skills
  • Airway, Ventilation, Oxygenation Skills
  • Vascular Access
  • Infection Control
EPICC-PEDIATRICS CORE CONTENT
  • Common Pediatric Presentations
  • Injury Prevention/Health Promotion
  • Contrast and Comparison of Pediatrics and Adult Patient Populations
  • Early Recognition of Deterioration
  • Fluid and Medication Calculations and Resources
  • Recognition of Maltreatment
  • Resiliency and Professional Growth/Development
EPICC-PEDIATRICS BODY SYSTEMS
  • Neurological Injuries and Illnesses
  • Fever/Infectious Diseases
  • Respiratory Conditions
  • Pediatric specific Trauma/Burn Care
  • GI/GU presentations
  • Endocrine Disorders
EPICC-PEDIATRICS INTERVENTIONS AND SKILLS
  • Pain Management in Children
  • Facilitating Care in Uncooperative Children/Moral Distress
  • Discussions with Caregivers, Challenging conversations
  • Skill Stations on Fluid Management/IV insertion/Positioning
  • Medications/Resources
EPICC-PEDIATRICS PATIENT POPULATIONS
  • Mental Health/Special Populations
  • Infant-Child
  • RSV
  • Hypovolemia/Rehydration therapies
  • Head Injuries and Concussion Management
  • Ingestions of Foreign Bodies
In-person sessions will focus on simulation, small and large group discussions about patient presentations and issues common to the emergency department environment.
Course Length and Evaluation
Online pre-course content can range from 8-12 hours depending on the level of detail sought.  The attended portion of the class is two days in length.  There is no pre-requisite to attend.  There is no written exam; however, there is an individualized evaluation process throughout the course.

EPICC-Réanimation

Currently in development, EPICC-Réanimation will focus on complex case studies delivered in a facilitated online setting.

EPICC-TFO (Triage, Flow & Operations)

EPICC-TFO is currently under development and will focus the 'art' of triage, patient flow and daily operations of an emergency department.