COVID 19 Response
Wow! What a few months it has been. As the COVID 19 pandemic rolled over the country, simulation programs at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center have responded in many ways. The Center never closed; although, its focus evolved with the situation.
Among the highlights:
There were many simulation sessions to support COVID 19 response, including developing and testing protocols, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) training, and experimenting with potential solutions (such as testing if a single ventilator could manage two patients). While all this was going on, the Center still supported onboarding of new clinical staff.
The Standardized Patient Program transitioned to virtual Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs). Integrating the Zoom video conferencing platform with the Center’s CAE Learning Space system, medical students interacted with SPs to continue their education and progress.
The Resuscitation Sciences Training Center implemented blended learning across several courses to reduce group meeting time and isolate sessions to small groups that could easily be managed in the Center.
The Simulation Center also supported the clinical enterprise by supplying needed medical equipment such as ventilators, ultrasound machines, and equipment/supply carts.
COVID 19 Publications and Presentations
As COVID 19 unfolded, Penn State Hershey faculty and staff became part of the international conversation on how to manage the response. One publication and five webinars were presented that highlighted local expertise, including:
- Andreae M, Dudak A, Cherian V, Hazard S, Dhar P, Shah B, Po W, Pilipovic M, Dalal PG, Rodgers DL, Sinz EH. Healthcare Simulation to Prepare for the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Clinical Anesthesia. 2020; 66; Epub ahead of print.
- Sinz E, Rodgers, DL, You-Ten E, DiMarco S (Presenters) Aeder M, Petinaux O, George I (Moderators) (2020, April 6). Simulation Training for COVID-19 Caregivers. Webinar presentation for the American College of Surgeons. Section title – Simultaneous Education and Testing of New Processes with Simulation in the COVID 19 Pandemic.
- Hartman J, Carter S, Huang YM, Rodgers, DL (Presenters), Aeder M, Petinaux O (Moderators). (2020, May 18). Sim Center’s COVID-19 Responses on Inventive and Supporting Initiatives Implemented during Quarantines. Webinar presentation for the American College of Surgeons. Section title – Rapid Cycle Procedure Development for COVID 19 Using Simulation
- Sinz EH, Rodgers DL. (2020, May 21). Rapid Prototyping Procedures and Practice with Simulation: Lessons Learned Preparing for COVID 19. Webinar presentation for the Society for Simulation in Healthcare.
- Chandra S, Rodgers DL, Sinz EH, Coplit LD. (2020, May 22). Teaching Procedures and Surgical Skills Remotely. Webinar presented by the American Association of Medical Colleges.
- Rodgers DL, Dongilli T, Kissenger, B, Wilfong, D, Jefferson C. (2020, June 11) The Impact of COVID-19 – What Does Your Simulation Center Look Like Now? Webinar presentation for Laerdal Medical Simulation User Network.
Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS)
The Resuscitation Sciences Training Center (RSTC) has taken responsibility for the ATLS program with our next course planned for July. To lead this effort, Lori Double has been brought into the organization as the RSTC Program Coordinator. Lori is an experienced ATLS Coordinator and comes to us From West Virginia University Hospitals. We are happy to have Lori working with us.
Instructor Course Modules
The Clinical Simulation Center’s comprehensive Simulation Instructor Course has been recognized as a best practice by accreditation agencies. This 40-hour course sets the standard for simulation instructor development. Yet the 40-hour time commitment can be very great for many people. To help make the course content more accessible and create more options for learners, the course is being converted to a modular program (although, the 5-day 40-hour program is not going away).
This spring the first module was introduced on Teaching and Coaching for Skills Acquisition. This was a single day program that targeted simulation instructors who primarily teach isolated skills such as IV starts and tube or catheter placements. The initial response was very positive. There are plans to continue this session and roll out other modules through the year.
CAE Learning Space
The Center’s CAE Healthcare Learning Space audio/video recording system is expanding to include the 14 rooms on the first floor of the Biomedical Research Building (BMR). These rooms, typically used for PBL sessions, now are convertible for OSCEs and other Standardized Patient assessment. In addition to the expansion of the CAE system, each room has been outfitted with an examination table and diagnostic headwall.
New SimBaby
The Center has received a new Laerdal Medical SimBaby. This is an updated version of Laerdal’s older SimBaby Classic and has many new features. Information about SimBaby can be found at – https://www.laerdal.com/us/products/simulation-training/obstetrics-pediatrics/simbaby/.
To increase the diversity of the Center’s simulation manikins, the new SimBaby features a dark skin tone. The Center now has at least one dark skin tone high-technology manikin in each of the manikin age groups (infant, toddler, child, and adult).
Zoll Defibrillators
The Simulation Center helped roll out new defibrillators across the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. The new Zoll R Series Plus defibrillators also feature CPR feedback. To help integrate the Zoll devices into training programs and allow for the highest fidelity experience with its anterior/posterior electrode pad place, the Center’s engineering resources led by Simulation Technologist Hans Hinssen reconfigured several manikins to accept anterior/posterior electrode placement and accommodate electrical energy and EKG functions.
