Obstetrics is a high-risk specialty in which emergencies are, to some extent, inevitable. Responding to emergencies under the best of conditions is challenging—especially when events are of low-frequency and high severity. Giving providers the opportunity to “work out the kinks” through simulation exercises and mock drills, is one of the greatest gifts we can give our staff and our patients.
Interdisciplinary team training is effective at improving teamwork and communication. A study published in The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety[1] found that a comprehensive interdisciplinary team training program using in-situ simulation can improve perinatal safety in the hospital setting. This provides a clear association between simulation training and improved patient outcomes. The hospital exposed to in-situ simulations training showed a statistically significant improvement of 37% in perinatal morbidity after simulations implementation. Didactic and control hospitals showed no statistically significant differences in improving outcomes.
Simulation Training
Simulation training is a proactive approach to reducing errors and improving communication and teamwork in obstetrics. Studies have shown that there is a close relationship between effective teamwork, training, and patient safety. Simulation training enhances team dynamics, builds confidence, and enhances skills in a risk free environment.
There are many advantages to simulation training over traditional didactic medical education including: providing exposure to complicated high-risk clinical scenarios; providing opportunities to train in a controlled, “risk-free” environment; providing opportunities to debrief and give candid feedback after drills and exercises; and perhaps most importantly, providing the rare opportunity to learn from mistakes, before they happen.
Author Ann Whitehead, RN, JD, is Vice President of Risk Management & Patient Safety at the Cooperative of American Physicians, Inc. (CAP) in its CAPAssurance, A Risk Purchasing Group, program that offers hospitals, large medical groups, and other health care facilities access to top-rated liability protection and risk management services.
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[1] Riley W., et al: Didactic and Simulation Nontechnical Skills Team Training to Improve Perinatal Patient Outcomes in a Community Hospital. Jt Comm J Quality Patient Saf 37:357-364, Aug. 2011.