Drive-thru continuing education to meet learners' needs

Continuing education is a requirement for emergency medical services practitioners in Ohio, and simulation-based learning has been effective for this purpose. Limitations to providing simulation for emergency medical services practitioners include a lack of simulation resources or equipment and a lack of trained simulationists to adequately use existing equipment, such as high-fidelity manikins. Here, we sought to provide simulation-based learning in the ambulance bays of our local hospitals to meet these needs.

The OhioHealth simulation team, in conjunction with OhioHealth Emergency Medical Services, conducted simulation-based education sessions in ambulance bays scheduled in 2-h blocks for 3 consecutive days at 3 different hospitals in Columbus, Ohio. The outcomes of the education sessions were evaluated based on the ability to meet the educational objectives and the suitability of the environment for learning. In total, 171 learners completed educational sessions and evaluations.

Modified Likert scale surveys were completed by learners to assess their confidence in the learning objectives. For each session, the learners were able to meet the determined learning objectives after the education. Regarding the feasibility of using ambulance bays for education, 90% of learners (155/171) responded that they "Agree" or "Strongly Agree" that the environment was conducive to learning.

Using care site ambulance bays with simulation staff and content experts, we were able to effectively deliver simulation-based education. Based on learner perception and ability for education to meet its determined objectives, the ambulance bay provides a feasible way to address existing barriers (cost, access to equipment, and trained staff) to simulation-based education for emergency medical services practitioners.