Health Science Students as PPE Coaches in the Emergency Department - a Pandemic Pilot Project

Area of Science:

• Infection Prevention and Control (IPC)
• Healthcare Education
• Public Health

Background:

• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is critical for reducing transmission of infectious diseases like COVID-19.
• Healthcare settings, particularly emergency departments (EDs), require stringent adherence to PPE protocols.
• The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated innovative strategies to maintain infection control standards.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a pilot project utilizing health science student volunteers as PPE coaches in adult and pediatric EDs.
• To assess the impact of student-led PPE coaching on correct PPE usage during the pandemic.
• To determine factors contributing to the effectiveness of student volunteers in infection prevention initiatives.

Main Methods:

• A 5-week pilot project was implemented in ED settings.
• Health science students received training and served as PPE coaches.
• Coaches utilized PPE checklists, documented observations, and collected feedback via surveys.

Main Results:

• Correct PPE usage demonstrated a significant improvement over the 5-week project duration.
• Student PPE coaches reported feeling safe, adequately trained, and integrated into the healthcare team.
• Key factors for project success included institutional support, clear role definition, and ongoing staff feedback.

Conclusions:

• The utilization of health science student volunteers as PPE coaches is an effective strategy for enhancing infection prevention and control.
• This model demonstrates the value of interprofessional collaboration and student involvement in healthcare quality improvement projects.
• Findings support the integration of students into infection control initiatives, particularly during public health crises.