No matter how you look at it, going to college is not cheap. If you’re a college student, with student loans and expensive books piling up, your financial situation might be a little stressful at the moment. Not to worry, Block Buddy is offering a deal for CRNA students: 2 Years for the price of 1 Year! All you need to do is have your CRNA Program Director or Faculty member contact us, and we can work out a deal for your entire program.

What is Block Buddy Pro?

Block Buddy Pro is an app that serves as the ultimate resource for nerve block education. It teaches you how to perform dozens of ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve blocks safely and effectively. The app contains several block descriptions, instructional videos, hundreds of ultrasound and medical images, point of care ultrasound (POCUS), non-opioid medications, local anesthetics, and more. Block Buddy Pro is full of excellent educational content and is very easy to use.

The app can be accessed offline, giving users the opportunity to view content when an Internet connection is not available. You can even access the app on your phone, tablet, laptop, and desktop. Add notes to improve your understanding of various regional anesthesia techniques, or log blocks you perform during your clinical rotations. The app will benefit a College or University’s CRNA Program by serving as an additional resource for students to learn important ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve block techniques.

NEW CRNA Student Discount Program

CRNA Program Directors and Faculty members are eligible for 2 Years for the price of 1 Year to see how the app will benefit their curriculum. Program Directors and Instructors, simply contact scott@myblockbuddy.com to get started. We can provide your program with a discount code to enroll your students in our 2 Years for the price of 1 Year Student Discount program.

Just send us the name of the program and the total number of students in the program to which the discount will be given. Then, we will give you a custom coupon code and instructions for your students. Remember, all communication must go through a Program Director or Faculty member who will be responsible for all communication with students. We do not accept individual student requests.

Enroll today and start saving. Email Scott at scott@myblockbuddy.com to improve your curriculum with Block Buddy Pro!

The Block Buddy team is excited to announce our support for continued anesthesia education at the Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia. MTSA’s Cadaveric Regional workshops are hands-on training courses. The workshops utilize cadavers and “live” scanning models, state-of-the-art ultrasound technology, and a comprehensive approach to regional anesthesia techniques for surgery and acute pain management.

MTSA’s Mission

The Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia offers graduate-level education for nurse anesthetists. A first of its kind, MTSA is built on Christian principles. The institution offers a learning environment that fosters a life of service and holistic approaches in health care. MTSA celebrates the diversity of faith both in the student body and faculty. Moreover, the school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission. They are also accredited by the Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs. 

Benefits of MTSA’s Regional Cadaveric Workshops

MSTA’s Cadaveric Ultrasound-Guided Regional Anesthesia workshops have a multitude of benefits. The program uses state-of-the-art ultrasound technology and cadavers. Besides these innovative tools, the program helps students strive for excellence. Primarily, the program has a low faculty-to-attendee ratio and individualized learning plans. Low faculty-to-student ratios is valuable as it allows for more personal academic advising. So, by having a small cohort, you can receive more individual attention that can positively impact your understanding of regional anesthesia. Similarly, the individualized learning plans (ILPs) allow you the opportunity to learn how you learn best. ILPs ensure student success and consider your learning needs to build a meaningful and personal curriculum.

Available MTSA Workshops

The Middle Tennessee School of Anesthesia offers Basic and Advanced Workshops for continued anesthesia education:

Basic Workshop

The eight-hour Basic Workshop includes pulsatile, cadaveric needling stations using the Maverick Method. This workshop teaches blocks such as interscalene, supraclavicular, infraclavicular, axillary, and more.

Advanced Workshop

In contrast, the Advanced Workshop features Anatomists performing the dissection and instruction of the anatomy related specifically to regional anesthesia. There is also simultaneous explanations of sonoanatomy, neuromuscular assessment of nerves, mapping of nerve lesions, and documentation of these findings. It also teaches an assortment of advanced blocks including PECS, erector spinae, serratus anterior, and RAPTIR.

Continued Anesthesia Education

The Block Buddy team is happy to support the MTSA’s Cadaveric Ultrasound-Guided Regional Anesthesia workshops. For more information or to take a course, please contact the MTSA team. Keep in mind that the Block Buddy Pro app is an excellent complement to these workshops. The app contains several block descriptions and instructional videos to aid you in your anesthesia education. Download the app and start learning today!

At Maverick Medical Education, students apply lessons from online modules to experiential training exercises in a clinical environment, developing confidence and proficiency. They offer a variety of courses for CRNAs, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other allied health professionals including Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS), Essential and Advanced Regional Anesthesia, and our Chronic Pain Series. So, Block Buddy is proud to partner with Maverick to support their valuable educational services.

About Maverick Medical Education

Maverick Medical Education provides medical staff to guide a student’s education beyond the textbook. Their techniques are new and inventive. The Flipped Classroom technique for education is a tested and Evidence-Based approach to efficient learning. Maverick offers low student-to-teacher ratios, high-fidelity pulsatile cadavers, state-of-the-art ultrasound machines, live models, and custom courses. They offer classes online and provide hands-on labs (Flipped Classroom) to further aid students in their understanding of regional anesthesia.

Online Education at Maverick

Maverick offers Essential and Advanced Regional Anesthesia Technique Didactic Programs online. They also have a 3 part Chronic Pain series of modules and labs. Through the Essential online USGRA program, students receive instruction for nerve blocks such as axillary, adductor canal, supraclavicular, interscalene, and more. The program delivers learning to earn 14 class A AANA continuing education hours. The course includes modules for instruction on the use of ultrasound for postoperative pain control nerve blocks. The Advanced course offers 10 class A AANA continuing education hours that include nerve blocks such as erector spinae, PECs 1 & 2, Suprascapular, and more. The modules are interactive and allow students to complete course prerequisites at their own pace. These courses must be completed before beginning the hands-on proficiency labs.

Hands-on Proficiency Labs

There are two proficiency labs offered by Maverick: Essentials (basic) and Advanced. Both labs are two days and award 16 class A CE credits. Once the student has completed the pre-learning modules, the experiential training exercises, in a clinical-like setting reinforces that knowledge. Students will work with high-fidelity pulsatile cadavers and qualified experts to maximize realism, provide opportunities for practice with immediate feedback and gain the confidence needed for proficiency. Upon successful completion of the hands-on lab, students will earn a Certificate of Proficiency.

Maximize Learning with Maverick and Block Buddy

The Block Buddy team is happy to support Maverick Medical Education. For more information or to take a course, please contact them. Along with the courses, the Block Buddy Pro app can aid you in reinforcing what you learned. The app contains several block descriptions and instructional videos to assist you in your anesthesia education. Download the app today!

 

Block Buddy is announcing the End of Life of its original Block Buddy app. The app has not been available for purchase in the App Store or Google Play Store since its End-Of-Sale on July 2019 and will reach End of Life on December 31st, 2020.

What Does End of Life mean?

December 31st, 2020 is the last day that the original Block Buddy app will receive service and support. After this date, the app will be discontinued, and users will no longer have access.

Why is the Original Block Buddy App Ending?

The Block Buddy team is committed to providing the highest level of quality and service to our subscribers. We feel that it is essential to end the original Block Buddy app so we can dedicate our full attention to our newer app Block Buddy Pro.

The founders of Block Buddy Pro are consistently adding new lessons, updating content, and providing user support for Block Buddy Pro. As practicing healthcare providers, they must invest their limited availability to focus on these responsibilities to meet the high standards of education and service that Block Buddy Pro users have come to expect. This way, we can ensure that Block Buddy Pro remains the best educational resource for administering ultrasound-guided nerve blocks.

What Options are Available for Original Block Buddy App Subscribers?

Consider Block Buddy Pro a direct replacement for the original Block Buddy app. It includes all the information featured in the original app, along with many other lessons and additional benefits. 

Should you have any questions, please contact Block Buddy Support.

 

Block Buddy is proud to partner with Global Response Management to help assist their life-saving humanitarian work. With this new partnership, Global Response Management and Block Buddy will help victims in war-torn countries and other at-risk areas around the world.

The Innovative Block Buddy Pro App

As you may know, Block Buddy Pro is a mobile application that provides education for anesthesia providers about performing ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve blocks and point of care ultrasound (POCUS). The app contains lessons with videos, detailed images, and descriptions, along with various other tools and resources. Block Buddy Pro can be purchased in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

Global Response Management Offers Life-Saving Care

Global Response Management (GRM) is a medical nonprofit non-governmental organization (NGO)​ that provides emergency and trauma care in low-resource and high-risk areas​ across the globe. The Block Buddy Pro app will be utilized by GRM medics in the field when performing life-saving operations and procedures. Importantly, the app offers offline access that medics will use in areas with little to no WiFi access.

About the Creators of Block Buddy

The creators of Block Buddy, Scott Urigel and Jeff Molter are highly skilled and respected anesthesia providers who share a passion for providing their expertise and knowledge to areas around the world that may not have access to quality medical education. They love improving the lives of patients and the knowledge of their peers; that’s why they’ve chosen to partner with Global Response Management.

Both Scott and Jeff have received numerous awards and accolades for their service over the years. Most recently, Scott Urigel was honored with the Alice Magaw Outstanding Clinician Award at the 2019 American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) Annual Conference. And Jeff Molter received the CRNA of the Year Award at the 2019 Ohio State Association of Nurse Anesthetists’ (OSANA) Conference.

Continue Education with Custom Conferences

Continuing education has never been more convenient! Block Buddy offers private workshops and conferences with award-winning, world-class instructors who can customize the conference agenda to meet your specific needs. A custom regional anesthesia conference from Block Buddy can explore how to safely and effectively perform ultrasound-guided nerve blocks with classroom lectures and hands-on demonstrations. It is an opportunity for any CRNA, SRNA, or MD to brush up on old skills and learn new ones, resulting in increased confidence, clarity, and credibility in the operating room. Every university, state association, and private anesthesia group has a different interest or need, so Block Buddy will customize your regional anesthesia conference to fit your needs. We provide Conference Support and are happy to accommodate any group size anywhere in the United States. And yes, we even receive approval from the AANA for Class A Continuing Education CE credits.

What Does a Typical Regional Anesthesia Conference Look Like?

Our regional anesthesia conferences typically span from a single day to several days, based on whatever the group would prefer. For an idea of how to set up your conference, here is what a typical Block Buddy conference may look like:

Example of a Private Regional Anesthesia Conference

Let’s recap a past regional anesthesia conference, so you can have a more detailed understanding of what you could expect. The Block Buddy team held a private conference at Henry Community Health to teach their staff about ultrasound-guided nerve block techniques. There was a great group of around two dozen CRNAs and SRNAs in attendance. The regional anesthesia conference began at 7:30AM with a detailed presentation about Infraclavicular Blocks, PECS, and Serratus Plane Blocks. Next, we did an hour-long Skills Lab to give the group an opportunity for some hands-on learning. Then at 9:30AM, we discussed TAP, Rectus Sheath, and Transversalis Fascia Blocks. And finally, we wrapped up the morning session with a lesson regarding the Erector Spinae Block.

After a lunch break, we engaged with the group again for a 1.5-hour long Skills Lab. Then, we presented the PENG Block, Adductor Canal Block, and Popliteal Sciatic Block. We concluded the evening with another Skills Lab to cover the final nerve blocks that we covered that day. Photos of the regional anesthesia conference are below. For FAQs about a conference or to contact us for more information, visit our Conference Support page.

   

   

Block Buddy Pro Student Discount Program

Hey CRNA Program Directors, have you heard about Block Buddy Pro’s student discount program? Block Buddy Pro is an app that serves as a useful resource that teaches you how to safely and effectively perform dozens of ultrasound-guided nerve blocks. The app contains several block descriptions, instructional videos, hundreds of medical images, point of care ultrasound (POCUS), nerve plexuses, non-opioid medications, and local anesthetics.

Block Buddy Pro is full of excellent educational content and is very easy to use. The app can be accessed offline, giving users the opportunity to view content when an Internet connection is not available. You can even access the app on your phone, tablet, laptop, and desktop. Add notes to improve your understanding of various regional anesthesia techniques, or log blocks you perform during your clinical rotations. The app will benefit a college or university’s CRNA Program by serving as an additional resource for students to learn important ultrasound-guided nerve block techniques.

Offers for CRNA Program Directors, Instructors, and Students

Program Directors and Instructors can try a FREE month subscription to see how the app will benefit their curriculum. Program Directors and Instructors, simply contact scott@myblockbuddy.com to get started.

Next, enroll your students in our 30% OFF discount program. Instructors or Program Directors must reach out to scott@myblockbuddy.com with the name of their program and total number of students in the program to which the discount will be given. Then, we will give you a custom coupon code and instructions for your students. Apply the discount to either a monthly or annual subscription. Remember, all communication must go through a Program Director or Instructor who will be responsible for all communication with students. We do not accept individual student requests.

To get started, click here!

Do you have old opioids or pain medications in your medicine cabinet that you no longer use? As many as 92 percent of people recovering from surgery stop taking their medications before the pills run out. Yet, only about one-quarter practice proper medication storage or opioid disposal. These drugs can be dangerous in the wrong hands, so you must know how to properly dispose of them. Learn how to dispose of expired, unwanted, or unused medicines by considering the following options.

Drug Take Back Programs

Safe drug disposal programs are the ideal method of opioid disposal. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) sponsors a bi-annual National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day in the spring and fall. These Take-Back Days are designed to provide a safe and convenient way to dispose of prescription drugs while educating the public about the dangers of opioid abuse. When visiting a Drug Take-Back Program, don’t bring in any pill bottles that include personal information on them for security purposes. To find a Take-Back location near you, visit the Take Back Day website.

Drug Disposal Collection Sites

If you missed Drug Take-Back Day, there are several year-round drug drop-off locations where you can dispose of your prescription drugs anonymously at authorized collection sites. Sponsored by the DEA, find a nearby Controlled Substance Public Disposal Location on the DEA website. Or, learn about the American Medicine Chest Challenge for another opioid disposal option. Many pharmacies such as Walgreens and CVS are also beginning to offer similar opioid disposal services.

Opioid Disposal at Home

When a Take-Back program or Drop-Off collection site isn’t available, there are two ways to dispose of medicine at home. The method is largely based on which type of medicine you’ll be disposing of. While home disposal is a safer alternative than keeping prescriptions unattended in your home, this practice may have a negative impact on the environment. But based on the available data of very low, but measurable levels of medications in rivers and streams, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) believes that the known risk of harm to humans from accidental exposure to these medicines far outweighs any potential risk to the environment from flushing them.

Flushing Medicine

The flushing method is recommended for medication that can be dangerous to others. When prescription drugs are expired, unwanted, or unused, many of them include specific directions to flush down the toilet or sink when another disposal method is not available. To see if your medicine needs to be flushed, review the prescription label or patient information pamphlet. Or, review the FDA’s list of medicines recommended for disposal by flushing. Specifically, the highly addictive opioid fentanyl should be flushed down the toilet immediately, once no longer in use, to reduce the danger of an unintentional overdose.

Throwing Medicine in the Garbage

If you choose to dispose of your medication in the garbage, the FDA suggests taking the following steps:

1. Mix the drugs with something undesirable, such as used coffee grounds, dirt, or cat litter. This makes the medicine less appealing to children and pets and unrecognizable to someone looking for drugs.
2. Put the mixture in something you can close (a zipper storage bag, empty can, or other container) to prevent the drug from leaking or spilling out.
3. Throw the container in the garbage.
4. Remove your personal information from the empty medicine packaging to protect your identity and privacy.

Combat the Opioid Epidemic

You can do your part to address the ongoing opioid epidemic by properly disposing of our unused prescription medications. We’re proud to teach regional anesthesia techniques with our Block Buddy Pro app that help patients avoid strong, addictive pain medications. To learn more, click here to learn how regional nerve blocks are the non-opioid alternative for chronic pain relief, and click here to learn more about how you can reduce and avoid opioid abuse.

The Perfect Gift for a CRNA or Anesthesiologist

We all have certain friends or family members who are difficult to buy gifts for, regardless of the occasion. You’re not sure about their individual tastes or preferences, they already seem to have everything, or you’re simply indecisive when picking out gifts. Whatever the case may be, don’t worry; it happens to us all!

But for that special CRNA, anesthesiologist, or medical student in your life, an annual Block Buddy Pro subscription is a perfect gift for a birthday, graduation, or Christmas celebration. Instead of giving a gift that they may not like or will sell or return, give them the ultimate mobile resource to learn about the anesthesia nerve blocks that they’re studying and administering, so they have the most up-to-date knowledge from the classroom to the operating room. And if you’re not yet convinced, take a look at the benefits of a Block Buddy Pro subscription:

Stay Sharp

The gift of a Block Buddy Pro subscription will empower a student, CRNA, and anesthesiologist to learn new skills with stunning illustrations and videos. They will impress professors, patients, and professionals with the latest anesthesia knowledge. They can brush up on familiar techniques so they’re always ready to operate.

Unlimited Answers

Tap into Block Buddy Pro’s extensive collection of knowledge from highly-respected anesthesia experts. Our app is constantly updated with new information and improved techniques, so you’re always in the know. The Block Buddy Support Team is always on standby to answer any technical questions you may have. And if that’s not enough, our instructors are even available to answer medical questions and give advice. It’s like having access to the ultimate answer key at your fingertips!

Anytime, Anywhere

Block Buddy Pro is always there for you. Access Block Buddy Pro on mobile, tablet, and desktop, wherever and whenever you’d like. Review Lessons offline by downloading them directly to your phone. Block Buddy Pro is available in both the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

Ultimate Usability

No more flipping through pages and scanning chapters; just search for the information you need in Block Buddy Pro. Simple pinch-zoom and swipe navigation makes learning easier than ever. Lessons organized by Head/Neck, Upper Extremity, Truncal, and Lower Extremity sections for quick accessibility.

Peace of Mind

Reference the app to show a nervous patient exactly what you’ll be doing in their procedure. Access your Notes easily from each individual Lesson to leave yourself tips and reminders.

How to Purchase

To purchase the gift of a Block Buddy subscription for a CRNA, anesthesiologist, or medical student, first visit the Block Buddy Pro registration page. Choose your Subscription, then click Add to Cart. Proceed to Checkout, then Create an Account for them. They will use this login information to access the app once they’ve downloaded it from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Remember that the subscription will auto-renew on a monthly or annual basis.

Enjoy giving the priceless gift of education to the special anesthesia provider in your life!

America’s Worst Drug Epidemic in History: The Opioid Crisis

We are in the middle of one of the deadliest epidemics in American history. Deaths from opioid overdose have quadrupled since 1999, with six out of ten overdose deaths in the U.S. involving an opioid drug. More than 1,000 patients are treated in emergency rooms daily for misuse of prescription opioids, and more than 500,000 people died from drug overdoses between 2000 and 2015.

Death rates from opioids now rival those of AIDS during the 1990s, far more than any other drug, yet opioid prescriptions have risen so sharply that in 2012, enough opioids were prescribed to supply every U.S. adult with his or her own bottle, according to the CDC. It has gotten so out of control that twelve states now have more opioid prescriptions than people. So with the opioid crisis finally coming to a head, medical professionals and pain management specialists are increasingly looking for alternative ways to control chronic pain.

Non-Opioid Alternative Treatment for Chronic Pain

The way we reduce opioid prescriptions is by finding alternative options for pain management that don’t have the dangerous side effects of opioids. Individuals who consume opiates over an extended period of time can develop a tolerance, requiring them to take more of these painkillers to elicit the same effect. This process can lead to addiction and increase the risk of overdose and death. Dr. LaPietra from St. Joseph’s Emergency Department in New Jersey helped launch the ALTOSM (ALTernatives to Opioids) Program in January 2016, which found ultrasound-guided nerve blocks as a safe alternative to opioids. “Hip fracture pain is exquisite,” says Dr. LaPietra, “(Patients) are in a lot of discomfort. They cannot move; they cannot breathe well. And within 5-10 minutes of the (ultrasound-guided) nerve block, she had complete pain relief.”

Non-Opioid Alternative Benefits of Ultrasound-Guided Nerve Blocks

Regional nerve blocks provide a better alternative for pain relief than opioids because they work locally. An anesthesia provider injects a local anesthetic and/or steroid around a specific nerve, group of nerves, or within a fascial place to reduce pain and inflammation. “What we are looking for is multimodal anesthesia,” said Yili Huang, DO, director of Northwell Health’s Pain Management Center. The modality is appropriate for any condition that involves nerve pain such as arthritis, sciatica, and chronic knee or back pain. “We want to balance our patients’ need for pain relief while limiting opioid use,” says Dr. Huang. “Nerve blocks give us a powerful non-opioid alternative.”

Additional Non-Opioid Benefits of Regional Nerve Blocks

Injuries that cause chronic nerve pain often require physical therapy, but many patients have too much pain to do P.T. An ultrasound-guided regional nerve block provides enough relief to allow patients to pursue physical therapy and regain strength. Not only that, but patients cannot develop a tolerance to nerve blocks, which provides a safe pain relief alternative for patients who have struggled with substance abuse and need to avoid taking addictive painkillers. All of these benefits are why more and more physicians are turning to ultrasound-guided nerve blocks instead of opioids. “I want to get the most bang for my buck,” said Dr. Huang. “The most pain relief for my patients from the least amount of medication. My job is to give them the relief they need to recover.”

Additional Resources: For more information about ultrasound-guided regional nerve blocks, visit GoOpioidFree.com and download the Block Buddy Pro app.