On course for neonatal knowledge

In the wide field of perinatology, little attention has historically been paid to Neonatal Emergency Transport Service (NETS). Academic postgraduate schools for pediatric students dedicate only a small part of their program to Neonatology, and even less space for Intensive Neonatology. NETS is totally neglected. Therefore, the need to structure a high-quality training offer for this niche discipline has led us to this initiative at the International School of Neonatal Emergency Transportation.

The School is aimed at those who gravitate towards the field of Neonatology, physicians and nurses focused on Intensive Neonatology, and those wishing to dedicate themselves to NETS.

The price is €950, taxes included. The School’s program takes place in nine monothematic meetings, dealing with many significant aspects of neonatal transport, both organizational and strictly clinical. These include NETS equipment, air transport, the movement of a newborn with Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS), neurological problems and surgical issues – including heart disease and sepsis. Students will actively participate by proposing, presenting and, above all, commenting on clinical cases related to their NETS experiences, with expert advice and guidance from teachers.

The complete course takes place over a year, from March-April to December; it is one day a month, starting at 09:00 hrs and ending at 17:00-18:00 hrs, depending on the program. The cost includes the online availability of presentations for subscribers for one year. The course is held in both English and Italian, with simultaneous translation provided. Furthermore, the possibility of a training internship to be agreed with each applicant, at no extra charge, is available to members. The main locations for NETS will be Gaslini and Rome.

University programs currently available to students, both for Bachelor of Medicine and Specialization Courses, ignore NETS. Generally, specific preparation occurs through the transfer of personal knowledge from doctors and nurses with proven experience, but none of this is institutionalized. The purpose of the School is to structure a training course that includes both teaching and mentoring functions, trying to lay the foundations for the construction of a true medical discipline – and not just an area of the profession that few enthusiasts dedicate themselves to. Mentoring and teaching Neonatal Transport is a real challenge.