Conference Overview- WM Backcountry

March 22 - 26, 2010  Terrace BC, Canada, home to Northern Escape Heli-Skiing

There is a growing trend of both medical and non-medical people to turn to backcountry pursuits for both relaxation and adventure. As the number of people increases, so do the incidence of medical emergencies – making it necessary to educate physicians to care for people in extremis in all conditions.

Currently, the majority of wilderness medicine courses do not teach the application of the taught skills in the actual environment where they would be applied. And many current CME courses hold “workshops” that may actually be elongated lectures, without hands-on clinical skill building. This feedback comes from personal discussions while running lectures and workshops at various CME venues the last several years. “Wilderness Medicine Update for the Backcountry” is unique in that the course venue can act as a virtual “fifth faculty member,” and the high alpine backcountry of Terrace, BC Canada can offer hands-on teaching that is unprecedented, to the best of our knowledge, in the current CME courses being offered.

This conference offers physicians 22 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits through the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) and up to 22 FAWM Credits through the Wilderness Medical Society (WMS).  The accredited curriculum is paired with four days of workshops and backcountry powder adventures.

Upon completion of this conference, participants should be able to explain Wilderness Medicine, assess Backcountry Orthopedics of dislocations and reductions, discuss High Altitude Medicine and Physiology, assess standards of Wilderness Footcare: beyond moleskin, determine Ethics of Wilderness Rescue, analyze Aerospace and Hypobaric Medicine, discuss Hypothermia, analyze UV Radiation and the power and problems with sun exposure, explain Serious Wilderness-Acquired Infections, assess Wilderness Resuscitation and Declaration of Death, distinguish the medical Limitations to Wilderness Travel, explain the Long View Outcomes of High Altitude Disorders, discuss Avalanche Terrain Assessment, discuss Avalanche Search and Rescue, and explain Helicopter safety and aerospace medicine.

It provides an annual opportunity for physicians to learn about in- the-field emergency medical situations that can arise from backcountry adventures. 

The curriculum has been developed to provide updates in Wilderness Medicine – specific for the unique clinical situations found in the backcountry settings. Tracks include backcountry critical care and ethics, high altitude illness, hypothermia & wilderness orthopedics. Physicians will also be working with trained guides in avalanche terrain – learning and practicing scene assessment, safe travel in hazardous conditions and search and rescue techniques - taking education beyond the classroom.

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies for the Accreditation Council of Continuing Medical Education through joint sponsorship of ACEP, CAL/ACEP, and Track and Trail Adventures, Inc.  The American College of Emergency Physicians is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The American College of Emergency Physicians designates this educational activity for a maximum of 22 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit (s) ™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Approved by the American College of Emergency Physicians for 22 hour (s) of ACEP Category I credit.