Simulation Course for Maintenance of Certification in Anesthesiology

• Discuss the clinical management of the scenarios presented during the course
• Identify systems challenges and possible solutions to these challenges
• Demonstrate effective teamwork and communication skills
• Analyze one’s own performance and consider areas for potential change

Our participants are typically ABA diplomate seeking to fulfill their simulation requirement for Part 4 of MOCA and/or practicing anesthesiologists seeking simulation-based experience in critical events.

For all MOCA requirements, please review the clarification letter from the ASA’s Simulation Editorial Board regarding the Part 4 Simulation Activity under MOCA 2.0 and consult the ABA website.

The full course fee is $1,850. A discount is available for current faculty of Feinberg School of Medicine and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Feinberg alumni and Anesthesia residency alumni. Please email moca@northwestern.edu to receive the discount code before registering. We accept Visa, Mastercard and Discover credit cards.

All cancellations must be submitted in writing (via email to moca@northwestern.edu or via letter to our office). If submission is received more than three weeks prior to event, the registrant will receive a refund minus a $75 administrative charge. Cancellations received less than three weeks prior to event will not be refunded.

If a course is full, and you would like to be added to the alert list, please send an email to moca@northwestern.edu with your contact information and the course date you would prefer. If a spot becomes available, everyone on the waitlist for that specific course date will be notified at the same time via email. The spot will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Only one waitlist request is permitted per person per year.

All course date switches must be submitted in writing (via email to moca@northwestern.edu or via letter to our office). If the request is made more than three weeks prior to the event, the registrant will incur a $75 administrative fee.

If the request is received less than three weeks prior to the event, the registrant will be required to pay for the new course date and will receive a 50 percent refund for the initial course. If the vacated spot is filled, the registrant will receive a full refund for the initial course minus a $75 administrative fee.

Please bring your ABA number and ASA membership number (if you are a member) and wear your scrubs and comfortable shoes. 

NCCS is located at 675 N. St. Clair St., Galter Pavilion, 5th Floor, Room 5-126, in Northwestern University’s downtown Chicago campus, just down the street from the Magnificent Mile shopping district. It is approximately 15 miles from O’Hare and Midway airports. We recommend allotting at least one hour travel time to either airport. 

Below are a few hotels that are walking distance (less than five minutes) from our location. Our guests often stay at these hotels and have given them excellent reviews:

• The Hyatt Chicago Magnificent Mile
• Cambria Chicago Magnificent Mile
• The Allerton Hotel
• The Peninsula Chicago

Parking validation slips will be distributed at the end of the course. Please note that validation slips will only work in Lot A (222 E. Huron St.).

Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education to physicians.

Simulation courses for MOCA are co-sponsored by the Northwestern Center of Clinical Medicine in the Department of Anesthesiology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and accredited by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA).

The Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 7.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits and 7.5 ABA Patient Safety Credits. Physicians should only claim the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

To receive credit for satisfactory completion of the simulation course for MOCA, participants will:

1. Submit an online course evaluation and identify three areas for practice improvement within three days of course completion. 
2. Complete attestation on ABA portal claiming MOCA credits.
3. Submit a follow-up report to the ASA one to three months following the simulation course. 
4. Upon submission of these elements, the ASA will notify the ABA that the simulation requirement has been completed.

The ABA recognizes simulation training as an innovative and experiential approach to the Practice Performance Assessment and Improvement component in Part 4 of MOCA. Completion of this simulation course and post-course requirements satisfies one requirement of the ABA’s MOCA program. Please consult the ABA website for a list of all MOCA requirements by certification year.

All instructors and staff participating in Simulation for MOCA courses have agreed to maintain confidentiality of the identity and details of performance of participants. By registering for this course, you agree to maintain confidentiality of:

• The details of specific scenarios
• Observations about the performance of specific individuals
• Specific identity of comments/opinions stated during the course

We are happy to accommodate groups of anesthesiologists. We highly recommend that one of the group members calls to make sure that there are enough spots available for the entire group before anyone registers. Once you confirm that there are enough spaces on the date you wish to attend, all parties of your group should register ASAP. We are unable to hold spots for certain individuals.

Please call 312-926-8050, and we will let you know how many spots are available at that moment. Because we cannot hold spots for participants, this number is not guaranteed to last. 

The registration page will allow you to indicate any food restrictions or allergies. We will order breakfast and lunch for the group keeping your needs in mind.

We will notify the ASA that you plan to attend a MOCA Simulation Course at Northwestern University. You will need to complete a course evaluation and Practice Improvement Plan within three days of the course conclusion. We encourage you to complete this at the end of the class, we will provide computers. Beginning 30 days after your course, you will receive three monthly reminders from the ASA to complete a web-based attestation that includes a description of your Practice Improvement Plan. Once this is completed, the ASA will notify the ABA of your completion of the Simulation requirement of the Part 4 MOCA.

Yes. The diplomate’s records are documented with the date of actual training.

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of American Society of Anesthesiologists and Fienberg School of Medicine. The American Society of Anesthesiologists is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The American Society of Anesthesiologists designates this live activity for a maximum of 7.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

This course is not a test and performance is not graded. Rather, each scenario is accompanied by a detailed, interactive peer debriefing led by an instructor. Advance preparation is not necessary. No report or record of performance is given to the ABA.

For participants who register more than six weeks in advance, the cost is $1,850. Course fees are subject to change.

Some parts of the course involve presentation to and discussion by the entire group of participants. The course contains several case scenarios. Participants rotate through different roles in the scenarios (such as the primary anesthesiologist, and one or more anesthesiologists who might respond if the primary person calls for help). Other roles in the rotation might involve observing a scenario in real-time on video. All participants from all the different roles will undergo a facilitated debriefing together so that all viewpoints can be heard.