Focus areas

Mayo Clinic's CERTAIN: Global Critical Care and Emergency Medicine Program equips healthcare organizations around the globe with scalable, evidence-based training and decision-support tools that strengthen critical care and emergency medicine delivery. By building local clinical capacity, standardizing best practices and supporting teams with artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled learning and simulation, we help hospitals improve outcomes, increase efficiency and enhance care team collaboration, even in resource-constrained environments. Our proven global model accelerates quality improvement while enabling organizations to advance equitable access to high-quality critical care.

To accomplish this, we use tools and learning models such as:

  • AI simulations to prepare clinicians for high-risk scenarios.
  • Asynchronous learning modules for flexible, self-paced learning.
  • Case-based coaching to learn from Mayo Clinic physicians' real-world experience.

As a participant in the CERTAIN Program, you can benefit from:

  • Team-based virtual simulations. Learning teams engage in realistic, interactive simulations focused on:
    • Admission and resuscitation.
    • Intensive care unit (ICU) rounding.
    • Shared decision-making.
    • Strengthening key skills such as point-of-care ultrasound and lung-protective mechanical ventilation.
  • Interactive case discussions. Walk through complex cases alongside world-class clinicians as they explain their reasoning in real time.
  • Changing care delivery from idea to impact. We provide step-by-step guidance on how to design, conduct and publish patient-centered quality improvement and research studies.
  • Standardized, high-quality decision-making tools. We help teams develop and use practical, evidence-based clinical tools such as checklists to deliver more consistent patient care.
  • Team-based resilience. Our program helps teams work together, communicate better and build reflection skills that reduce burnout and restore meaning and joy in clinical practice.
  • CERTAIN Commons. You will be invited to join CERTAIN Commons, a global, interprofessional learning community. CERTAIN Commons gives you access to faculty experts and peers anytime through a secure virtual collaboration platform that fosters continuous learning and connection.

Program components

The CERTAIN Program uses evidence-based practices, and we share them via a standardized, structured approach. The program is delivered entirely via video conferencing so that you can learn from leading Mayo Clinic physicians without having to travel.

Customize Learn Discuss Connect
  • Multimodal needs assessment using a proprietary Mayo Clinic process
  • Areas of focus centered on your team's needs
  • Research-based program
  • 20 self-paced online education modules
  • AI-enabled virtual simulation training
  • Interactive coaching opportunities
  • Train-the-trainer program
  • Case-based discussions with Mayo Clinic experts
  • Flexible virtual delivery, with in-person options also available
  • Procedure workshops for physicians or advanced practice providers, including mechanical ventilation and ultrasound
  • Workshops on change management approaches to drive quality of care
  • Certificate of completion
  • Graduation event to celebrate achievements
  • Opportunity to join the CERTAIN Commons alumni community

CERTAINly Human: A digital support tool for patients and families

A stay in the ICU brings uncertainty, stress and complex information. Patients and their families often want to learn more about what the care team is focusing on, what to expect during the ICU stay, and how family members can support their loved one. At the same time, ICU teams depend on families to help them understand the patient as a person — including their values, preferences, routines and what matters most to them.

The CERTAIN Program is developing the CERTAINly Human platform to support patients and families during the ICU journey. It is intended to make information easier to understand, encourage reflection and communication, and help preserve patients' empowerment and sense of self during critical illness.

Platform elements include:

  • ICU Smart. Simple, structured explanations of common ICU concerns and treatments, including:
    • Why the issue matters.
    • What the care team is doing to solve the problem.
    • How families can help support recovery.
  • Get to Know Me. A printable patient profile that helps families share meaningful personal information, preferences and communication needs with the care team.
  • ICU Diary. A private journal for patients and families to document important moments, reflections and milestones during critical illness and recovery. Such diaries may help patients and families process the ICU experience over time.

CERTAINly Human is intended for education and support and does not replace communication with a healthcare team.