Program Overview
Oral and maxillofacial surgery is a team effort. Each member of the team – from the surgeon to the assistants – is highly trained and qualified to address every anesthesia-related situation that may occur during a surgical procedure. Similar to professional sports teams, successful oral and maxillofacial surgery teams train as a unit to ensure they can seamlessly and quickly manage an unexpected airway emergency.
In recent years, advanced technology has made it possible to train surgeons and staff by simulating a full range of real-life emergency airway situations.
The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) has employed this technology to develop the National Simulation Program, a program that addresses the needs of the oral and maxillofacial surgery office-based anesthesia team. The program includes the Office-Based Emergency Airway Management (OBEAM) module.
The AAOMS National Simulation Program allows participants to practice and master critical techniques for administering and monitoring office-based anesthesia. Unlike previous anesthesia emergency simulation courses, this program is standardized to assure every participant experiences the same simulated events. Its state-of-the-art technology enables AAOMS to automatically evaluate the performance of every participant and pinpoint those areas that may benefit from additional training. In short, this program offers oral and maxillofacial surgeons an effective method of assessing their readiness to meet an office anesthesia emergency situation.
