Helicopter Evacuation Following a Rural Trauma: An Emergency Medicine Simulation Scenario Using Innovative Simulation Technology

Abstract

The relevance of simulation as a teaching tool for medical professionals working in rural and remote contexts is apparent when low-frequency, high-risk situations are considered. Simulation training has been shown to enhance learning and improve patient outcomes in urban settings. However, there are few simulation scenarios designed to teach rural trauma management during complex medical transportation. In this technical report, we present a scenario using a medevac helicopter (Replica of Sikorsky S-92 designed by Virtual Marine Technology, St. John's, NL) at a rural community. This case can be used for training primary care physicians who are working in a rural or remote setting, or as an innovative addition to emergency medicine and pre-hospital care training programs.

The Importance of Personal Protective Equipment Design and Donning and Doffing Technique in Mitigating Infectious Disease Spread: A Technical Report

“…Simulation-based medical education (SBME) has proven to be a very effective strategy in teaching clinical and team-based communication skills [13]. In the current clinical climate, appropriate donning and doffing of PPE is a crucial step in direct patient care, and simulation-based training is one strategy that may help to ensure these skills are acquired by healthcare providers.…”

“…Following the debrief, approximately 30 minutes of didactic instruction is included to provide additional teaching related to the learning objectives covered in the case. The inclusion of a didactic session immediately following a simulation has been shown to consolidate key clinical information and to highlight knowledge gaps for future learning [13]. The main teaching points to be covered in the didactic session are included in Table 4.…”

Can We CanMEDS? Intangible Learning Through Tangible Simulation Case Development

“…This particular case brought forward different perspectives (nursing and research) and required us to merge our different perspectives and styles. Another case involving rural medevac and the use of a helicopter simulator [ 5 ] required us to collaborate with experts in prehospital and rural medicine, as well as engineering and aviation.…”

“…To date, we have established a rich repository of clinical simulation scenarios. We have developed cases from propranolol overdose [ 6 ] to infant trauma management [ 8 ], from a new and innovate mnemonic (SPIRAL) for emergency medicine trainees [ 7 ] to complex medical transportation and evacuation [ 5 ]. We have written about privacy in the emergency room [ 2 ], and proper logistical management during an Ebola outbreak [ 4 ].…”

“…New medical students have become involved, while current students continue to find new and innovative means of developing simulation cases. Illustrating the interdisciplinary nature of our work, the helicopter emergency evacuation case brought together medical experts at the Faculty of Medicine, academics at the Marine Institute, and members of technology sector (Virtual Marine Technology) [ 5 ]. By collaborating in teams, we hope to create a community of practice that will benefit learners, professionals, and ultimately, our patients and their communities.…”