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 three-part program that addresses the needs of the oral and maxillofacial surgery office-based anesthesia team. The program is comprised of:

• The Office-Based Emergency Airway Management (OBEAM) module
• Office-Based Crisis Management (OBCM) module
• Sedation online module (in development)

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 new three-part program offers oral and maxillofacial surgeons and their staff an effective method of assessing their readiness to meet an office anesthesia emergency situation.