A Novel Code Team Leader Card to Improve Leader Identification.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Emergency Medicine
• Pediatric Critical Care

Background:

• Effective cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) relies on clear team leadership.
• Pediatric trainees often lack experience in high-pressure resuscitation scenarios.
• Lack of clear leadership can hinder team performance during pediatric codes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a tangible tool for clear code team leader identification.
• To enhance code team management and simulated team training for pediatric residents.
• To assess the impact of the Code Team Leader Card (CTLC) on leader recognition.

Main Methods:

• A Code Team Leader Card (CTLC) was designed, integrating Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) algorithms.
• The CTLC was implemented in pediatric resident simulation training.
• Pre- and post-intervention survey data were analyzed using chi-squared tests; qualitative data from debriefings were also collected.

Main Results:

• Consistent code team leader recognition significantly increased from 61.8% to 80.5% post-CTLC implementation (P=0.027).
• Participants reported benefits of the CTLC, including improved focus on leadership and utilization of PALS algorithms.
• The CTLC also served to occupy the leader's hands, preventing procedural over-involvement.

Conclusions:

• The CTLC significantly improves leader recognition during simulated pediatric CPR.
• Integrating cognitive aids like PALS algorithms enhances their utilization.
• The CTLC facilitates better team oversight by preventing leaders from engaging in procedural tasks.