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A National Simulation-Based Study of Pediatric Critical Care Transport Teams Performance
Erin E Montgomery1, Ingrid M Anderson2, Daniel J Scherzer3
1Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine and Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, IN.
Pediatric critical care transport (CCT) teams performed best when dedicated to pediatrics, including respiratory therapists and paramedics, and with more program experience. These factors improve care quality for critically ill children during transport.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Critical Care
- Transport Medicine
- Healthcare Simulation
Background:
- Pediatric critical care transport (CCT) is vital for critically ill children.
- Assessing CCT team performance in simulated environments is crucial for quality improvement.
- Understanding factors influencing CCT team effectiveness is essential for optimizing patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the performance of pediatric critical care transport teams using simulation.
- To identify team and center characteristics associated with higher performance scores.
Main Methods:
- An observational, multicenter, simulation-based study involving 78 pediatric transport teams from 12 centers.
- Teams participated in three critical scenarios: abusive head injury, sepsis, and cardiac arrest.
- Performance was measured using developed simulation scores, with secondary analysis of team and center characteristics.
Main Results:
- Performance scores varied by scenario, with higher scores for abusive head injury (89%) and cardiac arrest (86.6%) compared to sepsis (63.3%).
- Multivariable analysis revealed that teams with respiratory therapists, paramedics, and dedicated pediatric focus achieved higher scores.
- Increased program age was positively associated with improved team performance.
Conclusions:
- Dedicated pediatric CCT teams, inclusion of respiratory therapists and paramedics, and longer program age correlate with enhanced simulation performance.
- These findings provide actionable insights for improving the quality of interfacility transport for pediatric patients.
- Optimizing team composition and experience can lead to better care for critically ill children during transport.
