A model to embed clinical simulation training during ambulance shift work

Abstract

Paramedic education is now commonly delivered by educational institutions, but there is still a continuous need to ensure the competency of experienced staff and to help with orientation to newly adopted pieces of equipment, brief staff concerning new protocols or guidelines, and to allow them to practise in a safe and controlled environment. A complementary solution to traditional training rooms proposed in this article is to use a mobile simulation unit to take the training where ambulance staff are located, to fulfil their duty of care. The possibility of offering simulation training using a specially designed vehicle while a crew is waiting would improve the efficiency of the use of their time and enhance their training opportunities. There are several options regarding the training vehicle that could be used to fulfil this role depending on the budget and facilities that are to be offered during the training, but only two will be explored in this article. An additional key resource that will be discussed is the team of educators that are required to facilitate such training sessions to ensure they are effective and valuable learning experiences that will enhance pre-hospital care service delivery and benefit patient care. Over time, the training vehicle and its team, supported by an additional ambulance to cover for the team undertaking the training, would conduct their focused simulation training sessions with all the clinical staff of an ambulance service without affecting the rota of the crews or putting temporarily geographical areas at risk. The seeming strengthening link between enhanced levels of patient safety and the use of clinical simulation, while still not fully evidenced, is becoming more established, especially as ways of integrating such activities with day-to-day operations can be developed and adopted.