Going in Blind: A Common Scenario in an Uncommon Situation

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Emergency Medicine
• Healthcare Preparedness

Background:

• Increasing power outages pose a threat to healthcare delivery.
• Hospitals need robust protocols for managing emergencies during power outages.
• Medical simulations enhance preparedness for rare but critical events.

Purpose of the Study:

• To improve healthcare professionals' skills in managing cardiac arrest during power outages.
• To encourage review and adherence to institutional policies for power outage response.
• To enhance team coordination and resource management in simulated emergencies.

Main Methods:

• A high-fidelity medical simulation was developed for managing cardiac arrest during a power outage.
• Six resident physicians participated in the simulation as part of a competition.
• The simulation case was piloted and assessed by emergency medicine attendings.

Main Results:

• The simulation was well-received by both participants and evaluators.
• Learners reported increased confidence in managing emergencies during power outages.
• Participants reflected on their hospital's specific policies for power outage response.

Conclusions:

• Medical simulations are effective tools for training healthcare teams in emergency scenarios like power outages.
• This simulation enhanced participants' ability to manage cardiac arrest and coordinate care under resource limitations.
• The training prompted critical reflection on hospital emergency preparedness and individual roles.