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Nonintensivist Training to Increase the Staff Capacity of Intensive Care Units During COVID-19 Pandemic Surge in Argentina

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 August 2021

Ezequiel Monteverde ,
Laura Bosque ,
Roberto Klappenbach Open the ORCID record for Roberto Klappenbach [Opens in a new window] ,
Joaquín Baliña ,
Betina Lartigue ,
María Inés Arán ,
Nicolás Cano ,
Rosa Reina ,
Pedro Silberman  and
Claudio Ortiz
...Show all authors
Ezequiel Monteverde*
Affiliation:
Fundación Trauma, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Laura Bosque
Affiliation:
Fundación Trauma, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Roberto Klappenbach
Affiliation:
Fundación Trauma, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Joaquín Baliña
Affiliation:
Fundación Trauma, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Betina Lartigue
Affiliation:
Fundación Trauma, Buenos Aires, Argentina
María Inés Arán
Affiliation:
Fundación Trauma, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Nicolás Cano
Affiliation:
Fundación Trauma, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Rosa Reina
Affiliation:
Sociedad Argentina de Terapia Intensiva, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Pedro Silberman
Affiliation:
Dirección Nacional de Talento Humano y Conocimiento, Ministerio de Salud de la Nación, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Claudio Ortiz
Affiliation:
Dirección Nacional de Calidad en Servicios de Salud y Regulación Sanitaria, Ministerio de Salud de la Nación, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Vicente Gutiérrez
Affiliation:
Academia Nacional de Medicina, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Jorge Neira
Affiliation:
Fundación Trauma, Buenos Aires, Argentina
*
Corresponding author: Ezequiel Monteverde, Email: [email protected].
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Abstract

Objective:

The aim of this study was to report the results of a nationwide critical-care course for non-intensivists to increase staff capacity of intensive care units (ICUs) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Argentina.

Methods:

Three academic organizations, with special funding from 55 private companies, developed a short virtual course comprised of Web-based videos, virtual tutorials, and a forum chat. Each state assigned scholarships to non-ICU staff from public hospitals. Students received active follow-up for the completion of the course and took a survey upon course completion.

Results:

After 4 m, there were 10,123 students registered from 661 hospitals in 328 cities. Of these, 67.8% passed the course, 29.1% were still ongoing, and 3.1% were inactive. Most students were female (74.2%) with a median of 37 y old (IQR 31-44). The group was composed of 56.5% nurses, 36.2% physicians, and 7.4% physiotherapists, of whom 48.3% did not have any experience in critical care. Mean overall satisfaction was 4.4/5 (standard deviation, 0.9), and 90.7% considered they were able to apply the contents to their practice.

Conclusions:

This course was effective for rapid training of non-ICU personnel. The assignment strategy, the educational techniques, and the close follow-up led to low dropout and high success rates and satisfaction.

Keywords

COVID-19SARS-CoV-2educationpublic health professionaldisaster medicinecritical care
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 17 , 2023 , e41
Copyright
© Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2021

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