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Improving Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs using Multidisciplinary Teams

Learn how multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) can help Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) programs deliver positive patient outcomes with this online course from BSAC.

Duration

3 weeks

Weekly study

2 hours

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Examine the impact of multidisciplinary teams in AMS programs

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global threat that impacts healthcare costs, causing prolonged hospital stays and increased mortality.

On this three-week course from BSAC, you’ll learn how multidisciplinary teams (MDTs), as part of an Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) program, help prevent the spread of AMR and also reduce costs.

Explore the role of a multidisciplinary team in healthcare facilities

MDTs are composed of professionals including nurses, pharmacists, and microbiologists, all sharing a common goal of reducing AMR in their healthcare facility.

You’ll explore individual MDT roles and how, when brought together, they can improve patient outcomes. You’ll examine contributing factors of successful MDTs and compare carer and patient experiences without the support of MDTs.

Develop a multidisciplinary team within your organisation

By identifying key members of MDTs and alternate MDT structures for different settings, you’ll learn the most appropriate implementation for your healthcare facility.

Exploring perspectives of MDT practitioners, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of good practice and the steps needed to integrate an MDT into your current care framework.

You’ll be able to evaluate the impact of MDTs within your own setting and take steps to implement this structure within your organisation.

Investigate the effect of a successful MDT on patient care

Using a range of case studies, you’ll explore how different roles within the MDT deliver positive impacts on patient attitudes, outcomes, and overall care.

You’ll assess the examples and be able to discuss the benefits and challenges of collective approaches to AMS.

By the end of this course, you’ll understand the role of MDTs within AMS programs, and their impact on reducing AMR across healthcare facilities.

Week 1
Linking multidisciplinary teams and antimicrobial stewardship
- Welcome to week 1
  In this first activity you will be introduced to the course, the educators and provided with tools you can use throughout the course.
- Introduction to Antimicrobial Stewardship and Multidisciplinary Teams
  This activity introduces topics of Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) and Multidisciplinary Teams (MDT). Learners will explore what is meant by each term, and how the two are linked together.
- Understanding the MDT
  In this step we will explore what makes an MDT successful, as well as investigating some of the barriers lying in the way of success.
- Patients and participants experience in the MDT
  In this step, we will explore different experiences of the MDT from the perspectives of both patients being cared for and multidisciplinary team members.
- MDT in practice
  In this step, we will look at how an MDT functions in a real life healthcare facility, and hear some useful tips to keep in mind when working in an AMS MDT.
- End of week 1
  A summary of topics presented in this week
Week 2
Developing a multidisciplinary team in your healthcare facility
- Welcome to week 2
  This step introduces you to week 2 of this course and discusses what will be covered in the second week of this course. You will also be asked to respond to a poll looking at the setup of MDTs.
- The role of a multidisciplinary team in healthcare facilities
  Learners review topics covered in week one and discuss the role of a multidisciplinary team in their facility.
- Preparing for your multidisciplinary teams setup
  In this activity, learners identify key members of MDTs and explore the structure of MDTs for different settings. You will then go onto explore the minimum requirements that should be in place when setting up an MDT.
- Develop a multidisciplinary team in your antimicrobial stewardship program
  This activity builds on the previous activity providing learners with more detail on how to develop an MDT for their healthcare facility, in line with AMS programmes.
- End of week 2
  A summary of learnings from week 2.
Week 3
Impact of multidisciplinary teams on patient care
- Welcome to week 3
  This step introduces you to week 3 of this course and discusses what will be covered in the final week. You will also be asked to respond to a poll looking at the use of MDTs at your facility.
- The multidisciplinary team ward round: Part 1
  In this activity, you will be shown two different case studies, one managed without adequate MDT intervention and one with a well-followed MDT practice.
- The multidisciplinary team ward round: Part 2
  In this activity, you will be introduced to another set of case studies that highlight the importance of MDTs.
- A successful multidisciplinary team
  In this activity, you'll build on knowledge from previous activities to discuss how how working together in an MDT can improve patient care.
- End of course
  A summary of learnings from this course and a chance to test knowledge of the week.