Advanced Preceptorship Program Overview
Course Director
Ray Ortega, MD, FACS
Assistant Professor of Clinical Surgery
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Director, Wound Healing Center
Attending Surgeon
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center
Board-certified in general surgery and plastic surgery, Dr. Ortega is the Program Director of the Wound Healing Center in the Department of Surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center.
Dr. Ortega's wound healing program focuses on improving clinical outcomes for all wound patients as objectively measured by decreased wound area and improved quality of life.
Dr. Ortega directs a clinical outcomes program, an outpatient wound center and a dedicated inpatient wound unit.
Dr. Ortega's research focuses on mechanisms of non-healing wound angiogenesis and novel delivery systems.
He also concentrates on surgical techniques of debridement, design and implementation of clinical trials, and wound outcomes-related research.
Additionally, he has focused on the development of standard protocols for treatment of chronic wounds and the integration of multidisciplinary, evidence-based practices for optimal outcomes in non-healing wounds, objectives that serve as the foundation for this conference.
Advanced Preceptorship Overview
Dr. Ortega performing wound debridement in the OR. Attendees will be exposed to live surgical cases, Q&A Sessions, open discussion, and rounding on wound patients in order to further develop their surgical and clinical skills in wound healing.
This course will give attendees the best exposure possible to the continuity of care experience.
In addition, a selection of suggested wound articles will be provided to help generate discussion.
The advanced preceptorship program offers 18 CME credits and consists of two full days of wound training.
Advanced preceptorships will be held on a Thursday and Friday at The Allen Pavilion, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center in New York City.
Advanced preceptorships will be offered several times each month (20 advanced preceptorships in total from September 2007 through July 2008).
Because of the practical and interactive nature of the course, size will be limited to a maximum 6 participants per program.
On Thursday attendees will observe Dr. Ortega performing surgery on a variety of challenging wound ulcers (diabetic foot ulcers, venous ulcers, pressure ulcers, and other types of ulcers).
A live feed will project the audio and visual operating room experience into a conference room where attendees will interact (hold discussions/ask questions) with Dr. Ortega in real time.
Attendees will be encouraged to discuss their own wound healing challenges and describe their personal learning objectives so that Dr. Ortega can focus detailed discussion on their specific areas of need regarding wound healing.
On Friday attendees will round with Dr. Ortega in his outpatient Wound Healing Clinic, visiting approximately 50 wound patients.
Dr. Ortega will discuss the patient's medical history, how their ulcer has progressed, treatment plan, other health issues that must be addressed to provide overall patient care, and implementation of standard wound healing protocols.
Attendees will be given ample time to discuss patient cases with Dr. Ortega and ask questions in order to learn from the clinical rounds.
These programs, sponsored by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, are supported an educational grant from Organogenesis, Inc.
Goals of the Program
The intended goal of this course is to present an integrated set of procedures, protocols, therapies, and medical management, which together, comprise a standard of care for the repair and healing of wounds.
Dr. Ortega will share with you the implementation of evidence based protocols in the diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of all aspects of chronic wounds.
It is anticipated that after this course attendees will be better able to treat wound patients with the expectation that:
- wounds will improve as objectively measured by decreased wound area
- venous ulcers, less than a year duration, will heal in the absence of ischemia
- diabetic foot ulcers will heal in the absence of ischemia
The most important educational goal is implementing the specific protocols unique to the elderly, disabled, and diabetic, which comprise the vast majority of those with wounds.
Because of the practical and interactive nature of the course, size will be limited to a maximum 6 participants per program.
Before Debridement |
After Debridement |
Decreased Wound Area |
Who Should Attend
Participation in this program offers a unique opportunity to expand the knowledge and expertise of even those wound specialists with significant involvement in wound healing.
It is an advanced course, and participants must fulfill the following criteria in order to attend:
- Currently perform wound surgery (inpatient or outpatient debridement)
- Currently have substantial involvement in a wound program/practice
The advanced preceptorship is designed for wound care specialists who are responsible for the daily treatment of wound patients.
This program requires that applicants qualify to attend based on their wound experience and answers to application questions.
In particular, the target audience includes: surgeons and medical physicians, podiatrists, and surgical physician assistants who wish to enhance their knowledge of the care and treatment of wounds.
| 
