Board #259 - Program Innovation Family Centered Simulation (Submission #9435)

Objectives Simulation-based medical education and training is widely accepted as a teaching methodology for the education of healthcare providers. There is little literature regarding the use of simulation to accomplish similar goals of proficiency and skill mastery among families and patients with complex medical conditions and equipment. It is recognized that the hands-on nature of simulation lends itself to adult learning theory. With prior experience in successfully adding simulation to a home ventilator discharge teaching program, it was felt that simulation would enhance the tracheostomy discharge teaching. Description A simulation course was developed to supplement an existing bedside tracheostomy education plan for families and caregivers of children with tracheostomies nearing discharge to home. The goal of the simulation was to give parents and caregivers the opportunity to practice emergencies that would rarely be experienced prior to leaving the hospital. The simulation experience was intended to reinforce knowledge already learned during bedside teaching and to instill confidence in the caregivers so that they could recognize and intervene in the case of an emergency. The simulation occurred after all of the didactic teaching and bedside practice had been completed by the caregivers and within two days of the patient’s planned discharge. Emergencies practiced were dislodgement or decannulation, obstruction, aspiration, and difficult reinsertion. Repeat practice was offered to each family until they were comfortable intervening during each emergency situation. Families were accompanied during the simulation by the bedside tracheostomy educator that had previously provided all of the education preparing them for discharge. Bedside tracheostomy educators were trained on how to use simulation as a teaching technique prior to this simulation course. Conclusion Our experience using simulation to supplement didactic discharge education has demonstrated that simulation is well accepted and can be used successfully by families. We believe simulation scenarios can also be easily adapted for families who are nearing discharge with any medically fragile child. Simulation can provide an avenue for reinforcement of knowledge and development of confidence in caregivers prior to discharge home. References 1. Tofil NM, Rutledge C, Zinkan JL, Youngblood AQ, Stone J, Peterson DT, Slayton D, Makris C, Magruder T, White ML. Ventilator caregiver education through the use of high fidelity pediatric simulators: A pilot study. Clin Pediatr (2013); 52(11):1038-43. 2. Joseph RA. Tracheostomy in infants: Parent education for home care. Neonatal Netw (2011);30(4):231-42. 3. Schjittenhart JM, Smart D, Miller K, Severtson B. Preparing parents for NICU discharge: An evidence based teaching tool. Nurs Womens Health (2011);15(6):484-94. 4. Raines DA, Brustad J. Parent’s confidence as a caregiver. Adv Neonatal Care (2012);12(3):183-8. Disclosures None