Just-in-Time In Situ Simulation Training as a Preparedness Measure for the Perioperative Care of COVID-19 Patients

Routine workflows were redesigned during the first surge of the COVID-19 pandemic to standardize perioperative management of patients and minimize the risk of viral exposure and transmission to staff members. Just-in-time (JIT), in situ simulation training was adopted to implement urgent change, the value of which in a public health crisis has not previously been explored.

Implementation of workflow changes in the setting of the COVID-19 pandemic was accomplished through JIT, in situ simulation training, delivered over a period of 3 weeks to participants from anesthesia, nursing, and surgery, within our healthcare network. The perceived value of this training method was assessed using a postsimulation training survey, composed of Likert scale assessments and free-text responses. The impact on change in practice was assessed by measuring compliance with new COVID-19 workflows for cases of confirmed or suspected COVID-19 managed in the operating room, between March and August 2020.

Postsimulation survey responses collected from 110 of 428 participants (25.7%) demonstrated significant positive shifts along the Likert scale on perceived knowledge of new workflow processes, comfort in adopting them in practice and probability that training would have an impact on future practice (all P s < 0.001). Free-text responses reflected appreciation for the training being timely, hands-on, and interprofessional. Compliance with new COVID workflows protocols in practice was 95% (121 of 127 cases) and was associated with lower than expected healthcare worker test positive rates (<1%) within the network during this same period.

These findings support JIT, in situ simulation training as a preparedness measure for the perioperative care of COVID-19 patients and demonstrate the value of this approach during public health crises.