PG16 How to organise a respiratory high dependency unit?

Postgraduate Course
Chairs: B. Schoenhofer (Hanover, Germany), M. Chatwin (London, United Kingdom)
Aims: The effectiveness of high dependency units (HDUs), both in medical and economic terms, is obvious. It is possible to provide effective care for patients with acute on chronic respiratory failure and/or those requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation outside the general intensive care unit (ICU), and at a lower cost. In Europe respiratory care units have only been developed relatively recently, but there has been a rapid increase in numbers in recent years. European HDUs tend to serve as specialised single organ units at an intermediate level of care between the ICU and general ward, but their characteristics are not homogeneous.

HERMES syllabus links: A.1.4: Pathophysiology; B.1.4: COPD; B.10: Respiratory failure; B.14: Pleuro-pulmonary manifestations of systemic/extrapulmonary disorders; B.16: Respiratory diseases and pregnancy; B.19: Sleep-related disorders; E.1.6: Ventilatory support; E.1.14: Pulmonary rehabilitation; F8: Ethics; G.1: Intensive care; G.2: High-dependency unit; I.9: Economics of healthcare across Europe.
Type of course: Lecture and problem based
Level: Intermediate and advanced

What is the real provision and needs for HDU? J. Winck (Porto, Portugal)
Which equipment to choose? J. Storre (Freiburg, Germany)
How to organise the management, personnel-patient ratio and budget E. Clini (Gaiato - Modena, Italy)
How to organise teaching and discharge management? J. Escarrabill (Barcelona, Spain)