Creating a sustainable, interprofessional-team training program: initial results.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare education
• Medical simulation
• Teamwork in healthcare

Background:

• Effective resuscitation requires strong interprofessional collaboration.
• Simulated patient scenarios offer a platform for deliberate learning and skill development.
• Acute care units need optimized resuscitation response times.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate if simulated patient scenarios improve interprofessional collaboration and resuscitation response.
• To assess the impact of deliberate learning concepts on healthcare team performance.
• To determine the effectiveness of a pilot interprofessional educational program.

Main Methods:

• Pilot program evaluation using simulated patient scenarios on an acute medical floor.
• Involved 84 staff members (residents, RNs, RTs, PCTs) in 17 simulations.
• Assessed teamwork perceptions using TeamSTEPPS Teamwork Perceptions Questionnaire (T-TPQ) pre/post simulation and observed resuscitation behaviors against AHA guidelines.

Main Results:

• Mean T-TPQ leadership scores decreased significantly (P = .003) post-simulation.
• Only 35% of groups administered defibrillation during ventricular fibrillation simulations.
• Only one group delivered defibrillation within the recommended 2-minute timeframe.

Conclusions:

• A single simulation intervention was insufficient to improve resuscitation processes.
• Further longitudinal studies with repeated training are needed.
• Unit-based, frequent simulation training overseen by a clinical nurse specialist may enhance resuscitation skills.