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Physiologic Storyboarding for Scenario Development

MED SCI EDUC (2017)  27: 385-390.

This paper outlines the use of a physiologic storyboard for the development and implementation of scenarios for high-fidelity simulation. High-fidelity simulation has become a fundamental part of postgraduate medical education in Canada and the USA. It is especially useful for teaching and learning in disciplines like anesthesiology, which often involves stressful clinical situations. The physiologic storyboard is a flexible visual representation of a learning scenario that takes the physiology of the mannequin as the starting point and allows that physiology to determine the manner in which the scenario unfolds. The mannequin’s physiology responds directly to the clinical management, lack of management, or mismanagement provided by the learners. This adaptation of storyboarding for high-fidelity simulation facilitates the initial development of scenarios and allows for the proactive implementation of scenarios based on the physiologic changes in the mannequin. It has the potential to streamline and standardize scenario development and implementation wherever simulation is used as a teaching tool.

Development and implementation of the Canadian
National Anesthesiology Simulation Curriculum (CanNASC)

J CAN ANESTH 63, 1357–1363 (2016).

The specialty of anesthesiology will soon adopt the Competence By Design (CBD) approach to residency education developed by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC). A foundational component of CBD is frequent and contextualized assessment of trainees. In 2013, the RCPSC Anesthesiology Specialty Committee assembled a group of simulation educators, representing each of the 17 Canadian anesthesiology residency programs, to form the Canadian National Anesthesiology Simulation Curriculum (CanNASC) Task Force. The goals were to develop, implement, and evaluate a set of consensus-driven standardized mannequin-based simulation scenarios that every trainee must complete satisfactorily prior to completion of anesthesiology residency and certification. Curriculum development followed Kern's principles and was accomplished via monthly teleconferences and annual face-to-face meetings. The development and implementation processes included the following key elements: 1) Curriculum needs assessment: 368 of 958 invitees (38.4%) responded to a national survey resulting in 64 suggested scenario topics. Use of a modified Delphi technique resulted in seven important and technically feasible scenarios. 2) Scenario development: All scenarios have learning objectives from the National Curriculum for Canadian Anesthesiology Residency. Standardized scenario templates were created, and the content was refined and piloted. 3) Assessment: A validated Global Rating Scale (GRS) is the primary assessment tool, informed by using scenario-specific checklists (created via a modified Delphi technique) and the Anesthesia Non-Technical Skills GRS. 4) Implementation: Standardized implementation guidelines, pre-brief / debrief documents, and rater training videos, guide, and commentary were generated. National implementation of the scenarios and program evaluation is currently underway. It is highly feasible to achieve specialty-based consensus on the elements of a national simulation-based curriculum. Our process could be adapted by any specialty interested in implementing a simulation-based curriculum incorporating competency-based assessment on a national scale. National implementation of the scenarios and program evaluation is currently underway. It is highly feasible to achieve specialty-based consensus on the elements of a national simulation-based curriculum. Our process could be adapted by any specialty interested in implementing a simulation-based curriculum incorporating competency-based assessment on a national scale. National implementation of the scenarios and program evaluation is currently underway. It is highly feasible to achieve specialty-based consensus on the elements of a national simulation-based curriculum. Our process could be adapted by any specialty interested in implementing a simulation-based curriculum incorporating competency-based assessment on a national scale.

Anatomical 3D-Printed Silicone Prostate Gland Models and Rectal Examination Task Trainer for the Training of Medical Residents and Undergraduate Medical Students

CUREUS. 2020 JUL; 12(7)

The current generation of graduating medical students is entering into practice with minimal exposure to the digital rectal examination (DRE), a necessary component of a complete physical examination. Simulation-based medical education (SBME) using anatomical silicone models and task trainers can provide hands-on training opportunities for medical students to rehearse DREs. However, there is a scarcity of affordable, validated, and anatomically correct silicone prostate models and task trainers for rehearsing DREs. This technical report describes and validates evidence for silicone prostate models and a DRE task trainer created from three-dimensional (3D)-printed molds for medical student- and resident-training and clinical skills maintenance.
A pre-existing 3D human model and five different prostate models from open-source, royalty-free websites were converted using Fusion360™ (Autodesk Inc., San Rafael, CA) into stereolithography files and altered to produce negative molds. The prostate molds were filled with silicone and polylactic acid filament “nodules”. The buttocks were isolated from the human model and an anal canal was designed with a larger cavity on the interior to hold the silicone prostate models to simulate a real DRE. Five practicing urologists were recruited to evaluate the 3D-printed silicone prostate models and the DRE task trainer. The participants were provided with a qualitative survey and asked to rate the perceived realism and educational effectiveness of the prostate models and task trainer.
The silicone models and task trainer were found to be useful for simulation training when attempting DRE techniques. The feedback from the participants was positive overall and provided recommendations for improvement including stabilizing the prostate models in the task trainer, smoothening the transition between the rectum and the prostate, and adding an additional “normal” prostate model.
Silicone prostate models and DRE task trainers created from 3D molds are economical and anatomically and tactically accurate training tools to teach and maintain DRE skills as compared to commercially available, cost-prohibitive models. After making the suggested and appropriate modifications, the prostate models and DRE task trainer could potentially be used as tools for clinical skills training and maintenance and for patient education in the future.
Keywords: simulation in medical education, digital rectal examination, urology, three-dimensional (3d) printing, task-trainer, prostate

Patient Handover in Emergency Trauma Situations

CUREUS. 2020 AUG; 12(8): E9544

Miscommunication during patient handover can be a major cause of preventable medical errors. Emergency traumas are situations where high stress and cognitive load make communication more difficult. Simulation allows for junior learners to practice emergency scenarios in a low-risk setting. This technical report outlines a simulation involving patient handover in emergency trauma scenarios. The intended group of learners are first-year surgery and emergency medicine residents. The scenarios were developed based on the learning objectives of communication, collaboration, and information transfer. Using a high-fidelity simulation mimicking a tertiary care facility, the skills performed in these scenarios can be applied to everyday practice.

A Post-operative Masquerade: Simulation-based Scenario Challenging Clinical Clerks to Recognize an Atypical Presentation of Myocardial Infarction

CUREUS. 2020 APR; 12(4): E7510

Post-operative myocardial infarctions (MI) are a challenging diagnosis due to the alterations in the presenting complaint compared to an acute MI. Patients may be asymptomatic due to their anesthetics and sedatives from their operation which may create clinical confusion. As such, there is an increased risk for delayed administration of reperfusion therapies in this patient population which has shown to increase morbidity and mortality. It is anticipated that the difficulty of recognizing a post-operative MI would be exacerbated for clinical clerks due to their lack of clinical experience and overstimulation. Fortunately, the use of simulation-based learning has been proven to be a useful teaching tool to help clinical clerks manage medical problems in a controlled environment. This technical report describes a simulation case designed to enhance the recognition and response to a post-operative MI by a third-year clinical clerk. In this scenario, a 56-year-old male accountant presents with shortness of breath while recovering in the orthopaedic ward 12 hours following a total knee replacement (TKR). The clinical clerks are expected to conduct an independent follow-up prior to finishing their shift during which the patient begins complaining of shortness of breath. The clerk is required to order an electrocardiogram (ECG) for further analysis which reveals an anterior ST-segment elevation. Once recognized, a request for the crash cart and patient handover to the senior physician are expected.