News

Dear Block Buddy users,

Starting Monday, September 4, your Block Buddy Pro app will be temporarily unavailable due to a scheduled update.

This is a major upgrade to improve your overall app experience, based on feedback from users like you. 

Downtime will vary based on when your App Store reviews and approves the update. 

We expect the browser version of the app to be available first, so please access app.myblockbuddy.com in the interim while the mobile app is in review.

Keep checking your App Store to see when the new app update is available for you to download. Once available, please read all prompts carefully.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. We are confident that you will enjoy the new updates, and we appreciate your understanding and patience.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact our support team at support@myblockbuddy.com

Thank you for your cooperation and continued support.

Sincerely,

Block Buddy Support Team 

If you are a CRNA, SRNA, or other kind of anesthesia provider, you may be interested in the Block Buddy Pro app. It is widely considered a top education resource nationwide for all anesthesia providers. It offers lessons, narrated videos, ultrasound images, and more to help you learn how to perform ultrasound-guided nerve blocks.

Here, we will explain how to sign up for Block Buddy Pro and create your account. Review the simple instructions below, then you will be able to access the ultimate educational nerve blocks app!

Sign Up for Block Buddy Pro Subscription

Click here to sign up for a Block Buddy Pro subscription. Choose whether you would like to sign up for a Monthly or Yearly subscription and then add it to the cart. You are then going to add any coupons you may have and Proceed to Checkout. Users cannot create an account within the app itself.

Creating a New Account

If you are a new user of Block Buddy Pro, you will need to create an account by completing the form on the right hand side. After you create a user account, you will be directed back to the cart. You will then Proceed to Checkout.

Billing Details

Complete full Billing Details including Credit Card for subscription purchase. Then you will click “Place Order” to fulfill the payment. Your next step will be to head to the Apple App Store or Google Play Store to download Block Buddy Pro. Log in with the Username and Password you just created. Your subscription will automatically renew at the end of each billing cycle unless canceled prior.

Contact Us

If you have any issues, fill out a support ticket here. When you sign up with Block Buddy, you aren’t just signing up for an educational resource for Ultrasound-Guided Nerve Blocks & Anesthesia Education; you are also unlocking helpful video libraries, RX guides, and more!

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!