Around 100 BC acupuncture simulation was used and recorded in China. The long history of simulation has helped health care workers learn difficult procedures and manage high risk or complex patient care situations before they’re done on actual patients. It’s a sort of “practice” for real life situations in the clinical world. In 1910 life-like simulators were created. While Texas Children’s has been practicing simulations for many years, five years ago, under the leadership of Dr. Jennifer Arnold, neonatologist and medical director of Texas Children’s Simulation Center, the simulation center was created. It is a dedicated space in the Feigin Center which gives caregivers a safe space to practice life-like situations with simulators which react just as humans would.
In November, simulation experts from the Center for Medical Simulation (CMS) at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School held a four-day course, the Institute for Medical Simulation (IMS) course, for health care providers interested in or already leading simulation efforts across Texas Children’s. The course is one of the most comprehensive and immersive simulation training programs available and focuses on how to implement best practice simulation for improving quality, patient safety, and education. Four days of theory, practice, and reflective feedback create a truly experiential education where our simulationists develop a strong and comprehensive understanding of how to most effectively use simulation within their departments and educational programs.
“The goal of bringing the IMS course to Texas Children’s is to transform our simulationists to be outstanding simulation educators,” Arnold said.
“This course is a chance to have top experts in the field teach us about debriefing after a simulation exercise,” said Cara Doughty, Emergency Center physician.
Debriefing during or after simulation is singularly the most critical aspect to a successful simulation activity. It is where the learning occurs. Debriefing involves a discussion led by a trained expert reviewing what went right, how each person performed, what should have been done differently and how this situation could be improved in the case of a real-life scenario. It also is the most challenging aspect of implementing simulation, typically debriefing techniques are not instinctive to most healthcare providers and require rigorous practice.
Simulations can take place both at the Simulation Center and in real patient care settings like the operating rooms. Bonnie Eaton, a nurse in the operating rooms, has seen a great benefit with being involved in these courses as well as encouraging more simulations for operating room staff.
“It’s reassuring to the staff to have the ability to practice these scenarios before they are experiencing them with real patients,” said Eaton. “In the ORs, we are trying to develop a program to get all of the staff involved in simulations.”
Arnold has been a major advocate of bringing more simulation training activities to all areas of the hospital. Currently, simulations are done with clinicians from almost every area of the hospital and simulation scenarios have helped the staff prepare for major surgeries like the Mata conjoined twins separation surgery, and even for the possibility of a patient with Ebola visiting the hospital. Simulations play a key role in preparing the staff for these rare cases and helping determine the best course of action.
The simulation experts from CMS come from diverse backgrounds, but all have simulation educational expertise in common. Dan Raemer, PhD, has a background in bioengineering and is an expert in teamwork and crisis resource management. Walter Eppich, MD, Med, is a pediatric emergency medicine physician and is an expert in debriefing and faculty development. Kate Morse, PhD, MSN, RN, is a critical care advanced practice nurse and an expert in interprofessional education.
“Having Drs. Raemer, Eppich, and Morse here really re-energized the overall simulation program at Texas Children’s Hospital,” said Kelly Wallin, assistant director of Texas Children’s Simulation Center. “It is vital that we continue to develop and support a strong expert team of simulationists across the institution so we can implement simulation activities in all patient care areas.”
Not only did the visiting faculty lead a 4 day course for 20 simulationists here at Texas Children’s Hospital, but Dr. Raemer gave two innovative grand round presentations, one to pediatric surgery and the other to pediatrics. Simulation is becoming a more recognized and even standardized quality and safety tool across the nation and even internationally.
“We need to support and develop simulation activities not only to be a leader in quality, safety and education, but also to better serve our patients,” Arnold said. “The simulation center resides within the Quality and Safety Department at Texas Children’s Hospital because we recognize the value of it to patient care outcomes and safety.”