Simulation as a transdisciplinary educational tool in the pandemic. Our experience in 8 hospitals and 1789 health workers trained in Rosario, Argentina

Giardina, M.; Taverna, M. V.; Buscaglia, F.; Andreussi, L.; Cantizano, L. C.; Nigro, R. Palma

IntroductionAfter the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic, the Simulation Center of Rosario (Ce.Si.R), Argentina, under the authority of the College of Physicians, decided to foster a training program for collegiate physicians to continue strengthening their skills in the advanced airway management and the proper uses of Protective Personal Equipment, with a focus on in situ simulations for health staff in care centers.AimsTrain health teams from transdisciplinary paradigms and expand learnings in the strategic management of social and sanitary care actions, by assessing the participants strengths, and weaknesses, and by developing an improvement plan to implement in each institution or work equipment. Understand how the clinical simulation was perceived.MethodsAfter the beginning of the pandemic, the Simulation Center delivered some sessions to explain the theoretical and practical approaches of the project;8 hospitals and 9 primary care centers were selected for the in situ simulations, mostly aimed at strengthening the daily tasks of all those involved in the patient care process: stretcher handlers, nurses, physicians, housekeepers, and administrative staff. Either actors, manikins, or part-task trainers portrayed COVID-19 patients.Results and Discussion1789 health workers were trained. The in situ simulation disclosed the need to revisit technical and non-technical skills in real-time. Process non-apparent errors were detected: physical space, resources, signs, inter-service communication as well as the participants’ strengths and weaknesses.The simulation helps creating and recreating the necessary conditions to bond and produce knowledge from simple to complex scenarios. The project intends to directly improve patients and health workers’ safety by highlighting the relevance of teamwork and enhanced staff trust in the institutions. To the best of our knowledge, this innovative activity is unprecedented on such a big scale.