Global Academy in Pediatric Onco-Critical Care (GA-POCC)

What is GA-POCC?

The St. Jude Global Academy in Pediatric Onco-Critical Care is a 16-module online course designed to improve health care providers’ knowledge about the care of critically ill children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. Developed for pediatric intensivists and other clinicians who specialize in the treatment of pediatric hematology-oncology patients who develop critical illness, GA-POCC helps participants learn to:

• Identify critical complications within this patient population
• Implement appropriate and effective treatments
• Develop a working knowledge of quality improvement strategies to improve care for these patients in the local setting

Completion of GA-POCC is a pre-requisite for participation in Global Critical Care Program offerings including the GCCP Quality Improvement Workshop, St. Jude PICU Observership program and GCCP Workshop.

What is the goal of GA-POCC?

One in every three to four children with cancer will need pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) care at least once during their course of treatment. Unfortunately, these patients also have a higher risk of death during critical illnesses. This risk is especially high in settings with limited resources.

Common critical illnesses in children with cancer and blood disorders include sepsis (severe widespread infection), respiratory insufficiency, and serious neurological complications such as seizures or encephalopathies. Improving the management of these illnesses is integral to developing new global standards and improving patient outcomes, including reducing rates of toxic death. Specifically designed for pediatric intensivists treating critically ill children with cancer in low- and middle-income countries, GA-POCC provides:

• An understanding of clinical diagnoses, treatments and outcomes
• Access to new information, ideas and solutions
• A weekly live, interactive session led by faculty of St. Jude Global Pediatric Medicine and other pediatric onco-critical care experts

Who can take part in GA-POCC?

The Global Academy in Pediatric Onco-Critical Care is available to pediatric intensive care physicians and other providers who specialize in the care of critically ill children with cancer or other catastrophic diseases. English fluency is required to participate in the course.

The course is offered once per year, with applications open for a brief period each spring. To apply, candidates must submit an online application, an English-language CV and a letter of support from their direct supervisor. To learn more about how and when to apply, join the GCCP mailing list or email globalcriticalcare@stjude.org.

How does GA-POCC work?

GA-POCC is an online course administered via the Cure4Kids educational platform (https://www.cure4kids.org). The course is mostly asynchronous, with one live, interactive hour-long session per week. GA-POCC coursework takes an average of 5-6 hours per week to complete. Its 16 learning modules include:

• Pre-course self-assessment, pre-test
• Interactive meeting sessions (typically Fridays at 8 a.m. CST)
• Video lectures
• Readings from Critical Care of the Immunocompromised Hematology/Oncology Patient: An Evidence-Based Guide textbook (digital resource provided) and other readings as assigned
• Optional supplemental materials
• Module feedback surveys
• Post-course reflection, self-assessment, post-test

Participants who successfully complete coursework by a specified timeline may be eligible to apply to attend an in-person Global Critical Care Program Workshop and/or virtual GCCP Quality Improvement Workshop.

When is GA-POCC offered?

The annual GA-POCC course begins in the summer and runs for approximately 22 weeks. Registration opens in May, and the course launches in June/July (dates subject to change). To receive updates and information about the next GA-POCC course, including the specific timeline and application information, please join the Global Critical Care Program mailing list.

Learn more about St. Jude Global Academy

Join the Global Critical Care Transversal Program