Promoting collaboration in emergency medicine.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Emergency Medicine
• Healthcare Simulation

Background:

• Effective handover of care between paramedics and medical staff is crucial for patient safety and preventing medical errors.
• Interprofessional collaboration is essential for optimizing patient care during critical transitions.
• The University of East Anglia developed an innovative simulation exercise, Interprofessional Clinical Skills (ICS), to foster collaboration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of the Interprofessional Clinical Skills (ICS) simulation exercise in promoting collaborative practice among paramedic and medical students.
• To assess the impact of the ICS on student perceptions of teamwork, role understanding, and mutual respect.
• To determine the role of simulation in enhancing patient safety and clinical skills training.

Main Methods:

• A practice-based simulation exercise, Interprofessional Clinical Skills (ICS), was implemented involving undergraduate paramedic and medical students.
• High- and low-fidelity simulation, human factors, and values-based practice were utilized within the ICS.
• Student feedback was collected via a 100% response rate internal questionnaire.

Main Results:

• 99% of students enjoyed the ICS session, indicating high satisfaction.
• The ICS significantly enhanced mutual respect (98%) and understanding of professional roles (94%) among students.
• 92% of students reported development as collaborative practitioners.

Conclusions:

• The Interprofessional Clinical Skills (ICS) is an effective and engaging intervention for interprofessional education.
• Simulation provides a safe environment for students to develop essential clinical skills and prioritize patient safety.
• The ICS successfully promotes collaborative practice vital for modern healthcare.