Development of practical emergency simulation training in primary health care: Lessons learnt

Area of Science:

• Primary Health Care
• Medical Education
• Emergency Medicine

Background:

• Emergency care in primary health care settings is frequently suboptimal, contributing to physician stress and negative patient outcomes.
• Limited formal training in emergency management exists within public-sector primary health care facilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement and refine emergency simulation drills in primary health care settings.
• To enhance the preparedness of multi-disciplinary teams for emergency situations.

Main Methods:

• Two family physicians led iterative emergency simulation drills over 18 months.
• Multi-disciplinary teams participated, with each drill followed by structured reflection and feedback.
• The simulation and feedback processes were continuously reviewed and improved.

Main Results:

• Participants reported enhanced emergency management skills, increased confidence, and improved teamwork and information sharing.
• Staff valued the opportunity to review emergency equipment and medications.
• The simulation drills fostered a supportive learning environment.

Conclusions:

• Emergency simulation drills, coupled with effective feedback mechanisms, significantly improve primary health care emergency preparedness.
• Training facilitators is essential for the successful implementation and sustainability of simulation-based emergency management programs.
• Continuous improvement of simulation design and feedback processes is key to maximizing benefits.