Diploma in Syncope & Related Disorders

DIPLOMA IN SYNCOPE & RELATED DISORDERS Syncope is a very common occurrence with a lifetime prevalence of 40%. Most patients can be managed safely as an out-patient but many are unnecessarily admitted due to patient and doctor concerns about cardiovascular risk and lack of familiarity with the investigations and equipment required. It is estimated that a teaching hospital would use several thousand bed days per year in unnecessary admissions of patients with syncope and would save in excess of €1 million per annum if it developed an outpatient syncope unit and managed patients along established guidelines (McCarthy et al. Europace 2009”).

CORE FACULTY PROFESSOR ROSE ANNE KENNY - PROGRAMME DIRECTOR: Professor Rose Anne Kenny was founding Director of the Syncope Service in Newcastle upon Tyne, where she developed a world-class service and academic department over 16 years, until her appointment to Trinity College Dublin and St James’s Hospital, Dublin in 2007, where she co directs a busy national clinical - research syncope facility. She has published over 320 original papers, 45 chapters and 4 textbooks and has supervised 22 PhDs and 9 MSc students. Her contribution to science has been recognised by many awards most recently membership of the Royal Irish Academy . Rose Anne currently chairs the European Heart Rhythm Association Position Paper group on Syncope Management Units. She is a Fellow of Trinity College Dublin and of the Royal College of Physicians in London, Ireland and Edinburgh, and Director of both Mercer’s Research institute and Trinity Engage – Centre for Research in Ageing, TCD. DR CONAL CUNNINGHAM - PROGRAMME DIRECTOR: Dr Conal Cunningham has been working as a Consultant Geriatrician in St. James’s Hospital since October 2000 and a Senior Clinical Lecturer in Gerontology at Trinity College Dublin since 2006. He is the Associate Dean for the Registrar Training Programme at the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. He established and manages the Syncope Management Unit at St. James’s Hospital with Professor Rose Anne Kenny which now sees over 4,000 patients a year. In addition to syncope he has interests in falls, movement disorders and cognitive impairment and is active in research in all these areas. PROFESSOR DECLAN LYONS - CLINICAL DIRECTOR: Professor Declan Lyons is a Consultant Physician in Medicine for the Elderly at University Hospital Limerick and founded the syncope clinic there. He is chairman of the Expert Advisory Group on Ageing to the HSE and his research interests are in the areas of pharmacology of ageing with interests in syncope, hypertension, nitric oxide biology, osteoporosis and osteovascular instability. Previous projects have assessed the effect of ageing on nitric oxide mediated and sympathetically mediated vasoactivity, the interaction between the renin angiotensin and sympathetic nervous systems, tissue actions of ACE inhibitors and characterisation of age related vascular changes in health, hypertension and stroke.

INTERNATIONAL GUEST FACULTY PROFESSOR MICHELE BRIGNOLE - INTERNATIONAL EXPERT IN CARDIOLOGY Director, Division of Cardiology and Arrhythmologic Centre, Ospedali del Tigullio, Lavagna, Italy DR JOANNA LAWSON - INTERNATIONAL EXPERT IN DIZZINESS Associate Specialist, Falls and Syncope Service, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK DR STEVE PARRY - INTERNATIONAL EXPERT IN OLDER PEOPLE’S MEDICINE Consultant Physician, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK PROFESSOR RICHARD SUTTON - INTERNATIONAL EXPERT IN CARDIOLOGY Professor of Clinical Cardiology, Imperial College London, UK

KEY ELEMENTS • Recognise, diagnose & manage syncope • Understand possible outcomes • Test for and diagnose syncope and related disorders • Identify appropriate treatments • Understand syncope in relation to various other issues • Relate key concepts in setting up a syncope clinic or service • Contribute to improved patient services nationally and internationally

PROGRAMME AIM The aim of the Diploma in Syncope & Related Disorders is to provide participants with the expert knowledge, skills and attributes to effectively diagnose, treat and manage syncope and related disorders in a range of clinical settings and within a syncope clinic.

Programme Directors PROF. ROSE ANNE KENNY Professor and Head of Gerontology Trinity College Dublin

DR. CONAL CUNNINGHAM Consultant Geriatrician St. James’s Hospital Dublin

“Diploma in Syncope & Related Disorders is the first of its kind, which is firmly rooted in evidencebased medicine and practice in the diagnosis and management of syncope and related disorders. It is a fantastic initiative which will allow participants to benefit from the knowledge of international experts in the area and thereby provide excellent care for patients.” ~ Professor Rose Anne Kenny LEARNING OUTCOMES On completion of the Diploma in Syncope & Related Disorders, you will be able to: • Demonstrate an expert ability to detect, investigate, diagnose and manage syncope • Apply current international evidence and best practice principles in the treatment and management of syncope employing a multi disciplinary model of care • Establish a syncope service • Contribute to national and international syncope registers • Coordinate, train and educate health professionals and provide clinical leadership in the use and development of appropriate evidence-based pathways • Contribute to national and international policy in the management of syncope and related disorders

INTRODUCTION TO SYNCOPE AND RELATED DISORDERS • Definitions • Classification • Pathophysiology • Epidemiology • Prognosis • Impact on quality of life

TREATMENT EVALUATION, DIAGNOSIS AND RISK STRATIFICATION • Initial evaluation • Diagnostic testing • Monitoring

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Treatment of reflex syncope and orthostatic intolerance Cardiac arrhythmias as primary cause Syncope secondary to structural cardiac or cardiovascular disease Unexplained syncope in patients with high risk of sudden cardiac death

FOR WHOM

WORKLOAD

This Diploma has been designed for healthcare professionals working in and/or with an interest in syncope, including:

The Diploma in Syncope & Related Disorders is a modular-based programme. You will complete online components over the course of the programme, including participation in interactive ‘Webex’ sessions. You will need to attend classes in Dublin during a residential week in November and during two days in May, followed by a one day examination. You will also be required to complete a one-week clinical attachment in a recognised syncope unit.

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Medical Consultants and Registrars; the programme may be of particular interest to Physicians and Registrars in General Internal Medicine, Acute Medicine, Cardiology, Geriatric Medicine, Emergency Medicine and Neurology General Practitioners and GP Trainees Clinical Nurse Specialists in Cardiology ACLS certification is required

TEACHING STRATEGY This Diploma will be delivered using international best-practice principles and guidelines in teaching and learning, using relevant and up-to-date educational methodologies. Programme delivery methods will include: • Online education • Lectures • Clinical attachment • Interactive Webex sessions • International expertise

ORGANISATIONAL ASPECTS SPECIAL ISSUES • Syncope and stroke • Syncope and the elderly • Syncope and the Emergency Department • Syncope and driving • Syncope and sport • Syncope and pregnancy

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Syncope service development Set up of syncope service Business plan development Roles of multidisciplinary team

IMPROVED PATIENT EXPERIENCE • Contribution to national and international syncope registers and research • Education of patients and other healthcare staff

PROGRAMME DURATION

PROGRAMME DATES

The Diploma in Syncope & Related Disorders will run in the academic year 2014-2015. It will begin with a preparatory online materials in September 2014 and end with an exam in May 2015.

Online Preparatory Reading Available from 1 September 2014

Lectures will be held in RCPI’s Postgraduate Medical Education Centre located at Setanta House, Setanta Place, Dublin 2.

Module Two (by arrangement) Between November 2014 and April 2015

Clinical attachments will be facilitated by St. James’s Hospital, Dublin or University Hospital Limerick – or by arrangement internationally.

Module One 3-7 November 2014

Module Three 20-21 May 2015 Exam 22 May 2015

ASSESSMENT

PRICING AND PAYMENT OPTIONS

Formative and summative assessments have been incorporated throughout the programme. In order to receive the RCPI Diploma in Syncope & Related Disorders, participants are required to:

The fee for the Diploma in Syncope & Related Disorders is €3,000. A discounted fee of €2,700 is available for RCPI Trainees, Collegiate Members and Fellows. Payment plans are available. For more information please contact [email protected]

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Complete workplace-based assessments while on attachment to a syncope unit Participate in a minimum of two case-based discussions and present a case for peer discussion via Webex meeting space Attend the seven days taught component Complete a one-week clinical attachment in a recognised syncope unit and submit logbook Pass a written examination

APPLY ONLINE AT WWW.RCPI.IE

SETTING STANDARDS IN THE MANAGEMENT OF SYNCOPE RCPI is committed to equipping doctors and other healthcare professionals with the skills and knowledge they need to care for their patients and run safe and efficient healthcare systems and this new Diploma is another example of this commitment. RCPI identified a need to further develop education on syncope and related disorders and it was felt that this offered a good opportunity to take a multidisciplinary approach. It is our hope that the participants on this Diploma will develop the skills and expertise necessary to improve the patient experience for those with syncope and related disorders nationally and internationally.

MODULE TWO

ONLINE PREPARATORY MATERIAL

MODULE ONE

SYNCOPE UNIT CLINICAL ATTACHMENT

DETECT, DIAGNOSE & MANAGE

MODULE THREE ESTABLISH A SYNCOPE SERVICE

WEBEX SESSIONS

DIPLOMA IN SYNCOPE & RELATED DISORDERS EXAMINATION

For more information and to apply online please visit www.rcpi.ie . If you would like to talk with us please call 01 863 9700 or email [email protected]. Follow us on: