A Simulated Scenario to Improve Resident Efficiency in an Emergency Department

Introduction Multitasking is a core competency in emergency medicine. Simulation has been shown to be an effective method of education, which allows learners to prepare for real-world challenges in a controlled environment. Methods In this study, trainees were given a scenario that simulated the experience of managing two patient encounters within a time metric while addressing interruptions that take place in a typical ED. Residents were evaluated using an internally developed scoresheet, which assessed task-switching abilities, documentation skills, and adherence to door to disposition time metric. Residents were asked to evaluate their experience with a survey. Results All the participants reported that they would translate some of the skills learned to their daily clinical practice. Five out of six residents reported improvements in their skills as a result of the task-switching training. The following three common themes were pervasive in the debrief discussion: (1) the residents felt the added pressure of the door-to-disposition metric, (2) the objectives of the simulation did not fit within their pre-constructed concept of a successful simulation equating to establishing the correct diagnosis, and (3) the interruptions were very realistic. Discussion Emergency physicians are interrupted approximately every 9-14 minutes, and this number increases with the number of patients being managed simultaneously. By developing a safe, simulated training environment, we sought to transfer key strategies for improving focus and learning to prioritize while also helping them to identify how certain pressures and interruptions affected their stress levels and concentration.