The ICE-BLU project teaches the theoretical knowledge behind basic echo and lung ultrasound in the intensive care patient. The sessions are interactive and contain echocardiography videos to demonstrate teaching points. Teaching includes the physics of ultrasound, anatomy and basic views, left and right ventricular function, life-threatening pathologies, basic lung ultrasound and some of the limitations and pitfalls that may be encountered. The intended audience is intensive care and acute medicine doctors, anaesthetists and clinicians interested in assessment of the critically ill patient.

The sessions are mapped to the FICE curriculum but the whole module is suitable for anyone intending to undertake a hands-on training course or as a refresher of the knowledge previously acquired in this area. There is a final MCQ session, which will allow the production of a CPD certificate for those who have completed the eight sessions.

Thousands of people are affected by acute or chronic pain every year in the UK. For some this is short term due to illness or injury, for others chronic pain is a way of life. The National Pain Audit highlighted the inconsistencies with which pain is managed across primary and secondary care and, despite recent advances in both areas, patients are often referred too late for these services to make any significant difference.

e-PAIN is a multi-disciplinary programme designed to improve the early diagnosis and management of pain. The programme is aimed at all NHS healthcare professionals who do not specialise in pain medicine, but regularly encounter patients suffering from acute or chronic pain.

The e-PAIN programme has been developed by the Faculty of Pain Medicine in partnership with the British Pain Society and elearning for healthcare. Dr Douglas Justins, Clinical Lead for e-PAIN says: ‘This exciting and important project will help improve the recognition, assessment and safe treatment of unrelieved pain resulting in the significant improvement of patient care.’

For further information on the programme and how to access the elearning please visit http://www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/pain-management/

HRH the Princess Royal recently launched the e-SAFE DVD at the Royal College of Anaesthetists. A collaboration between elfh, RCoA and the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, e-SAFE is a free educational DVD for anaesthesia providers in resource-limited countries. Focusing on the key topics of paediatrics, obstetrics, trauma, newborn care and critical care, the e-SAFE DVD includes sessions from elearning Anaesthesia, together with a bespoke e-library and instructional videos filmed in Nepal. The DVD can be widely reproduced and requires no internet access. Copies are available from www.rcoa.ac.uk/e-SAFE or by emailing e-safe@rcoa.ac.uk For further information, see http://www.rcoa.ac.uk/news-and-bulletin/rcoa-news-and-statements/rcoa-hosts-hrh-the-princess-royal-e-safe-safer-education

In April 2013, elfh moved to Health Education England (HEE). An exciting opportunity for elfh, HEE’s remit includes the delivery of  ‘Better Training, Better Care’, with Technology Enhanced Learning being seen as a key enabler of transformational change across the healthcare sector.

“Outstanding…. a great resource for the non-tracheostomy specialist”. So said David Roberson, Associate Professor of Otology and Laryngology at the Children’s Hospital Boston and Harvard Medical School when he reviewed the new ‘Tracheostomy Safety’ project.

Developed in partnership with the National Tracheostomy Safety Project and the Royal College of Anaesthetists, the three sessions support those caring for ‘neck breathing’ patients, either routinely or in an emergency. They are applicable to general and specialist nursing staff, medical staff and allied health professionals from all backgrounds, in both hospital and community settings. Tracheostomy Safety is available at https://www.e-lfh.org.uk/programmes/tracheostomy-safety/ , via the NLMS or at www.tracheostomy.org.uk

eFetal Monitoring won the top ‘Gold’ award for ‘Innovation in Learning Services’ at The Learning Awards 2012, hosted by The Learning and Performance Institute. The judges commended the innovative knowledge base, summative assessments and bespoke case study tool, which provides experiential training in interpreting CTGs. They said “In an outstanding presentation, the elfh team demonstrated that the programme will save training costs throughout the NHS and save the lives of, or prevent severe handicap to, hundreds of babies a year”.

For more information, please visit www.thelearningawards.com/.