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Simulation-based medical education for Ambulance Jet and Helicopter Emergency Medical Services: A program description
Sabine Nabecker1, Rafaela Pfeffer1, Stefan Lötscher2
1Department of Anaesthesiology and Pain Medicine.
Mededpublish (2016)
|March 15, 2024
Summary
This study shows that simulation-based training for air rescue crews improved skills and teamwork. Participants found the crisis resource management course valuable for patient safety and clinical practice.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Aviation Safety
- Emergency Medicine
Background:
- Crew Resource Management (CRM) training, established in aviation, is increasingly used in medicine to enhance safety.
- The Swiss Air Rescue (Rega) implemented a simulation-based medical education program in 2015 for helicopter and ambulance jet crews.
- The program aimed to improve technical skills and the application of human factors in rescue missions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate a 5-year simulation-based medical education program for air rescue crews.
- To assess the program's impact on technical skills, human factors application, and patient safety.
- To gather participant feedback on course content, instructors, and overall effectiveness.
Main Methods:
- A 1-day high-fidelity simulation with video-assisted debriefing was conducted annually at 3 centers.
- Simulations covered critical scenarios in helicopters, jets, intensive care unit handovers, and ambulance settings.
- Low-fidelity simulations for basic and advanced life support skills were practiced between missions.
Main Results:
- 329 crew members (physicians, paramedics, nurses, pilots) participated.
- Participants reported high agreement that the course provided useful clinical competencies.
- Confidence in applying advanced skills like Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) and Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump (IABP) was lower than for other competencies.
Conclusions:
- The simulation-based medical education program was successfully launched, aiming to enhance patient safety and outcomes.
- Participants highly valued the opportunity for reflection on clinical performance, crew interaction, and human factors.
- The program effectively improved team performance and task management in air rescue operations.
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