Importance of Simulation-based Learning during COVID Times
The re-emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in the second quarter of 2021 has been a challenge for the medical community. As of June 4th, the overall number of COVID-19 cases has increased to almost 173 million globally. Although 156 million infected amongst them were able to escape from the grasp of the deadly illness, 3.7 million people lost their lives.
However, the cases increased quite rapidly in India. This rapid rise made the task of the doctor’s complex as they had to manage the complicated cases while following the protocols for infection control and isolation. Due to this reason, the role of simulation-based training has become much more fundamental than ever.
The aforesaid system helps one or a group of physicians replicate the standard medical practices in a “simulated environment.” It, in turn, aids them in acting promptly when a critical situation occurs and, avoid making decisive errors in the heat of the moment. For instance, e-Next ICU has reduced the mortality rate by 40% during the COVID-19 pandemic by integrating simulation based training with Tele-ICU (as compared to pre Tele-ICU mortality figures).
Simulation-based Learning – Advantages
The introduction of Tele-ICU in the healthcare community has significantly benefited the overall medical infrastructure. For example, it has lowered the mortality ratio in the spectrum of healthcare from 0.74 to 0.58. However, the prime aspect of Tele-ICU is the doctors’ ability to collaborate, implement and coordinate, which is not always the case if one is not trained in the nuances of critical care. Nonetheless, with the correct usage of simulation-based training, this scenario can be improved pretty quickly.
- By following the course of simulation-based training, a doctor can get trained in handling complex situations generated by the simulator. It, sequentially, will help them in developing sharp reflexes and decision making skills thus avoiding critical mistakes and unwanted consequences. Besides, they can also forestall the natural distractions and work with absolute concentration. This, in turn, can lower the death rate by 7%, which generally occurs due to negligence.
- A well-designed simulation-based training also improves various teamwork-related traits, such as team leading, collaborating, communicating, etc. Therefore, it becomes easier for the doctors and medical staff to tackle a dire situation together as a team.
- The simulation-based training also enables a physician to apply their knowledge without any harm to the patient as all the learning is done on simulators and mannequins. So, they gain more experience and confidence by managing the critical scenarios by themselves under simulator generated real life scenarios.
- During a simulation-based training session, the head of the team can also perceive the response of their trainees. Therefore, they can confer about the mistakes together and ensure proper uniformity with compliances and protocols when training again and eventually on the bedside.
- Tackling a pandemic, such as COVID-19, can be difficult for any hospital and its members.
According to a research model regarding the same, a similar practice was attempted on 141 members of a hospital to learn about their expertise in handling critical care. However, the simulated situation had made almost 70% in the intervention group, and 75% of the control group extremely stressed.
With repetitive practice on a simulator, not only do the medical personnel handling CoVID patients become efficient in handling real-life situations in an isolation unit and Personal Protective gear, but the chances of accidental self-injection also go down. Thus the incidence of health workers getting infected can be lowered without affecting patient care.
Combining the above with Tele-ICU can further improve our efficiency and patient outcomes and safeguard medical staff
Roles of Simulation-based Training
According to a report, simulation-based training can operate through several beneficial roles for an organization –
- It can educate the doctors about real-life situations and ensure proper leadership while dealing with a critical COVID-19 patient. They can learn more about the aspect of followership as well and provide the ideal support when needed.
- With simulation-based training, an individual can perceive the core of an optimized workflow and dependencies. They may learn more about using specific equipment and ensure perfection during actual scenarios.
- The training sessions can also help them understand their limits and put a hold on their emotional strain. It may also prompt the staff to share their psychological issues and find ways to keep themselves healthy.
e-Next ICU Training Course
To ensure improvement in the environment of Tele-ICU in India, e-Next is offering several courses to needy healthcare institutions. They aim to provide short-term courses on hemodynamic monitoring, Mechanical Ventilation, respiratory emergencies, nursing preparatory, etc. Furthermore, their portfolio also comprises other sessions like clinical observership and ECMO. So, they can offer an all-in-one solution for you and your organization.
Conclusion
As per research, almost 98,000 people tend to lose their life due to error-prone treatment. Moreover, the issue of misreporting is also considered to be quite common and contributes to 32% of medical-related mistakes. Due to this reason, the importance of simulation-based learning has increased significantly. Hopefully, its prominence will increase even more and end the circle of error in the cosmos of healthcare facilities once and for all! Additional benefits can be obtained by combining simulator training and Tele-ICU, especially in the current pandemic scenario.
