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FREEHIEC Training Opportunity for
Primary Care GP Practices in South London
Following a very successful pilot in 2011,the South London HIEC (Health Innovation and Education Cluster),working together with the simulation centres at St Thomas’ and St George’s hospitals, are offering a training and development opportunity to GP practices in South London to strengthen their preparedness for common acute care emergencies.
The programme is aimed at clinical and non-clinical staff and focuses on building capacity for individual and system responses. By preparing for medical emergencies with the correct equipment, team-response training, and protocols, primary care GP practices can greatly decrease the risk of an unfavourable outcome.
The programme uses advanced mobile human patient simulators (HPS) and is delivered in three phases over a 6-month period: beginning with a local needs analysis, it includes 3 ½ day practice-based training sessions. The programme concludes with an evaluation of outcomes and a report and recommendations for each practice.
Phase 1
Period / Action / ParticipantsAt 3 months / Learning Needs Analysis
Practice-based simulation training, questionnaire + training resource pack.
SMART* action plan 1 / All practice staff (clinical and non-clinical)
This phase consists of a postal pre-programme questionnaire followed by a site-specific half-day training session using HPS to assess the needs of practice teams and reinforce best practice. The needs analysis will address site specific needs (e.g. emergency management plans, staff training, perceptions of safety, contents of emergency grab bags and medical equipment) and individual needs concerning specific knowledge and skills managing common acute care emergencies (knowledge of protocols, safe use of equipment, human factor skills).
Phase 1 concludes with a negotiated site-specific action plan for follow up session in 3 months.
Phase 2
Period / Action / ParticipantsAt 3 months / Practice-based simulation training
Telephone interviews
SMART action plan 2 / All practice staff (clinical and non-clinical)
Thiswill consist of a site-specific half-day training session using mobile simulators. This will monitor the fulfilment of action plan goals from phase 1 and conduct further needs analysis and training looking particularly at:
i)Team training to develop the staff response team (Non-technical skills such as leadership, communication, situational awareness)
ii)Safe use of equipment and ability of clinical and non-clinical staff to coordinate their utilisation in an emergency
iii)Ergonomics – how effectively the local environment is organised to cope with emergencies (location and maintenance of equipment, contents of grab bags, staff knowledge of specific roles in an emergency)
After each SBT(simulation based teaching) exercise, systematic debriefs on the performance of the whole response team will be conducted focussing on technical, non-technical skills and site specific ergonomic issues.
For this session we would need access to a training/seminar room or reception area (able to seat the practice team), as well as two clinical/consulting rooms. The project leads would visit the x4 chosen practices in order to liaise with the practice manager in terms of logistics.
At conclusion of phase 2 practice staff will negotiate a second action (SMART) plan to be carried out before the final practice visit at 6 months.
Phase 3
Period / Action / ParticipantsAt 6-12 months / Practice-based simulation training
Evaluation of action plans.
Post course questionnaire
Final report and recommendations / All practice staff (clinical and non-clinical)
This final site-specific half-day session is designed to evaluate the implementation and success of the phase 1 and 2 SMART action plans.
Frequently asked questions
- What is simulation training?
This type of training uses sophisticated life-size manikins, known as human patient simulators (HPS) to train participants in the non-technical skills related to patient safety such as leadership, communication, team work etc. The HPS can breathe, respond to drugs, and has measurable blood pressures and pulse rates. Participants can be put into real-life scenarios and practice their role in a variety of circumstances. Scenarios will be (for example) a patient collapse in the waiting room – participants are asked to react and deal with the scenario.
One of the key componentsof simulation training is the ability to reflecton how individuals/teams handlepotentially stressful and highly-charged emergency situations. Scenarios are filmed and this reflection is done by video playback where participants have an opportunity to view the scenarios and discuss what has happened. This is an invaluable opportunity to understand how your role interacts with ‘patients’ and other members of the health care team.
- Why am I attending this training?
You are part of a team which cares for patients. In General Practice it is rare for patients to have
immediately life-threatening problems. When such a problem occurs (such as a seizure or an acute allergic reaction) it becomes a challenge for all members of the team. The difference between a patient with an acute life-threatening condition doing well and not doing well may depend on timely recognition (that something serious is wrong), rapid communication (with London Ambulance) and effective team-work.
- Should I have read up on anything beforehand?
We will provide you with pre-course reading which would be helpful for you to have looked at beforehand however you will not be tested on it. You are only be expected to be yourself on the day and there will be no role-playing nor special preparation needed.
- Am I being tested?
No. This is a learning experience for all the team. There is no test, no pass-mark. We have rules about confidentiality and mutual respect.
- Will the day change anything?
We hope it will. You will realise that all members of the general practice team are important in the response to emergencies. The idea is to expose members of the team to events which are rare and, because of that, are outside the experience of most people, including experienced doctors and nurses. Managing these events usually involves recognition, communication and the instigation of relatively simple treatment whilst help is on its way. The key skills are communication (amongst the team members and to outside agencies) and organisation; skills which do not really depend on who you are or what you do. We can all learn strategies which will improve these skills.