Browsing by Author "Whitfill, Travis"

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    A Collaborative In Situ Simulation-based Pediatric Readiness Improvement Program for Community Emergency Departments
    (Wiley, 2017) Abulebda, Kamal; Lutfi, Riad; Whitfill, Travis; Abu-Sultaneh, Samer; Leeper, Kellie J.; Weinstein, Elizabeth; Auerbach, Marc A.; Pediatrics, School of Medicine
    Background More than 30 million children are cared for across 5,000 U.S. emergency departments (EDs) each year. Most of these EDs are not facilities designed and operated solely for children. A Web-based survey provided a national and state-by-state assessment of pediatric readiness and noted a national average score was 69 on a 100-point scale. This survey noted wide variations in ED readiness with scores ranging from 61 in low-pediatric-volume EDs to 90 in the high-pediatric-volume EDs. Additionally, the mean score at the state level ranged from 57 (Wyoming) to 83 (Florida) and for individual EDs ranged from 22 to 100. The majority of prior efforts made to improve pediatric readiness have involved providing Web-based resources and online toolkits. This article reports on the first year of a program that aimed to improve pediatric readiness across community hospitals in our state through in situ simulation-based assessment facilitated by our academic medical center. The primary aim was to improve the pediatric readiness scores in the 10 participating hospitals. The secondary aim was to explore the correlation of simulation-based performance of hospital teams with pediatric readiness scores. Methods This interventional study measured the Pediatric Readiness Survey (PRS) prior to and after implementation of an improvement program. This program consisted of three components: 1) in situ simulations, 2) report-outs, and 3) access to online pediatric readiness resources and content experts. The simulations were conducted in situ (in the ED resuscitation bay) by multiprofessional teams of doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists, and technicians. Simulations and debriefings were facilitated by an expert team from a pediatric academic medical center. Three scenarios were conducted for all teams and include: a 6-month-old with respiratory failure, an 8-year-old with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), and a 6-month-old with supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). A performance score was calculated for each scenario. The improvement of PRS was compared before and after the simulation program. The correlation of the simulation performance of each hospital and the PRS was calculated. Results Forty-one multiprofessional teams from 10 EDs in Indiana participated in the study, five were of medium pediatric volume and five were medium- to high-volume EDs. The PRS significantly improved from the first to the second on-site verification assessment (58.4 ± 4.8 to 74.7 ± 2.9, p = 0.009). Total adherence scores to scenario guidelines were 54.7, 56.4, and 62.4% in the respiratory failure, DKA, and SVT scenarios, respectively. We found no correlation between simulation performance and PRS scores. Medium ED pediatric volume significantly predicted higher PRS scores compared to medium-high pediatric ED volume (β = 8.7; confidence interval = 0.72–16.8, p = 0.034). Conclusions Our collaborative improvement program that involved simulation was associated with improvement in pediatric readiness scores in 10 EDs participating statewide. Future work will focus on further expanding of the network and establishing a national model for pediatric readiness improvement.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Community-based in situ simulation: bringing simulation to the masses
    (BMC, 2019-12-21) Walsh, Barbara M.; Auerbach, Marc A.; Gawel, Marcie N.; Brown, Linda L.; Byrne, Bobbi J.; Calhoun, Aaron; Katz-Nelson, Jessica; Tay, Khoon-Yen; Whitfill, Travis; Kessler, David; Dudas, Robert; Nishisaki, Akira; Nadkarni, Vinay; Hamilton, Melinda; Pediatrics, School of Medicine
    Simulation-based methods are regularly used to train inter-professional groups of healthcare providers at academic medical centers (AMC). These techniques are used less frequently in community hospitals. Bringing in-situ simulation (ISS) from AMCs to community sites is an approach that holds promise for addressing this disparity. This type of programming allows academic center faculty to freely share their expertise with community site providers. By creating meaningful partnerships community-based ISS facilitates the communication of best practices, distribution of up to date policies, and education/training. It also provides an opportunity for system testing at the community sites. In this article, we illustrate the process of implementing an outreach ISS program at community sites by presenting four exemplar programs. Using these exemplars as a springboard for discussion, we outline key lessons learned discuss barriers we encountered, and provide a framework that can be used to create similar simulation programs and partnerships. It is our hope that this discussion will serve as a foundation for those wishing to implement community-based, outreach ISS.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Does Length of Emergency Medicine Training Matter for Leadership Skills in Pediatric Resuscitation? A Pilot Study
    (2023-04-28) Schoppel, Kyle; Keilman, Ashley; Fayyaz, Jabeen; Padlipsky, Patricia; Diaz, Maria Carmen G.; Wing, Robyn; Hughes, Mary; Franco, Marleny; Swinger, Nathan; Whitfill, Travis; Walsh, Barbara
    Background The majority of pediatric patients in the United States (US) are evaluated and treated at general emergency departments (GEDs) that are often ill prepared for pediatric patients. Despite rotating at large pediatric hospitals, during training Emergency Medicine (EM) residents care perform few pediatric resuscitations. It is possible that discrepancies in length of EM residency training may allow for variable exposure to pediatric patients, critical resuscitations, and didactic events. The goal of this study was to compare leadership skills of EM residents graduating from 3 vs. 4-year programs during simulated pediatric resuscitations using a previously validated leadership assessment tool, the Concise Assessment of Leader Management (CALM). Methods This was a prospective, multicenter, simulation-based cohort pilot study that included graduating 3rd- and 4th-year EM resident physicians from 6 EM residency programs. We measured leadership performance across three simulated pediatric resuscitations using the CALM tool and compared leadership scores between the 3rd- vs. 4th-year resident cohorts. We also correlated leadership to self-efficacy scores. Results Forty-seven residents (24 3rd-year residents and 23 4th-year residents) participated. Out of a total possible CALM score of 66, residents from 3-year programs scored 45.2 [SD ± 5.2], 46.8 [SD ± 5.0], and 46.6 [SD ± 4.7], whereas residents from 4-year programs scored 45.5 [SD ± 5.2], 46.4 [SD ± 5.0], 48.2 [SD ± 4.3] during the sepsis, seizure and cardiac arrest cases respectively. The Total Leadership Score (TLS) for the 3-year cohort was 46.2 [SD ± 4.8] vs. 46.7 [ SD ± 4.5] (p = 0.715) for the 4-year cohort. Conclusions These data suggest there may be no difference in leadership skills between 3rd- vs 4th-year EM residents in our study cohort. This pilot study provides the basis of future work that will assess a larger multicenter cohort with the hope to obtain a more generalizable dataset.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Improving Emergency Preparedness in Pediatric Primary Care Offices: A Simulation-Based Interventional Study
    (Academic Pediatric Association, 2022-09) Yuknis, Matthew L.; Abulebda, Kamal; Whitfill, Travis; Pearson, Kellie J.; Montgomery, Erin E.; Auerbach, Marc A.; Pediatrics, School of Medicine
    Objectives Pediatric emergencies pose a challenge to primary care practices due to irregular frequency and complexity. Simulation-based assessment can improve skills and comfort in emergencies. Our aim was improving pediatric office emergency preparedness, as measured by adherence to the existing American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement, and quality of emergency care in a simulated setting, as measured by performance checklists. Methods This was a single center study nested in a multicenter, prospective study measuring emergency preparedness and quality of care in 16 pediatric primary care practices and consisted of 3 phases: baseline assessment, intervention, and follow-up assessment. Baseline emergency preparedness was measured by checklist based on AAP guidelines, and quality of care was assessed using in-situ simulation. A report-out was provided along with resources addressing potential areas for improvement after baseline assessment. A repeat preparedness and simulation assessment was performed after a 6 to 10 month intervention period to measure improvement from baseline. Results Sixteen offices were recruited with 13 completing baseline and follow-up preparedness assessment. Eight of these sites also completed baseline and follow-up simulation assessment. Median baseline preparedness score was 70% and follow-up was 75.9%. Median baseline simulation performance scores were 37.4% and 35.5% for respiratory distress and seizure scenarios, respectively. Follow-up simulation assessment scores were 73% and 76.9% respectively (P = .001). Conclusions Our collaborative was able to successfully improve the quality of care in a simulated setting in a group of pediatric primary care offices over 6 to 10 months. Future work will focus on expansion and improving emergency preparedness.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Preparedness for Pediatric Office Emergencies: A Multicenter, Simulation-Based Study
    (AAP, 2021-09) Abulebda, Kamal; Yuknis, Matthew L.; Whitfill, Travis; Montgomery, Erin E.; Pearson, Kellie J.; Rousseau, Rosa; Diaz, Maria Carmen G.; Brown, Linda L.; Wing, Robyn; Tay, Khoon-Yen; Good, Grace L.; Malik, Rabia N.; Garrow, Amanda L.; Zaveri, Pavan P.; Thomas, Eileen; Makharashvili, Ana; Burns, Rebekah A.; Lavoie, Megan; Auerbach, Marc A.; Improving Pediatric Acute Care Through Simulation (ImPACTS); Pediatrics, School of Medicine
    OBJECTIVES Pediatric emergencies can occur in pediatric primary care offices. However, few studies have measured emergency preparedness, or the processes of emergency care, provided in the pediatric office setting. In this study, we aimed to measure emergency preparedness and care in a national cohort of pediatric offices. METHODS This was a multicenter study conducted over 15 months. Emergency preparedness scores were calculated as a percentage adherence to 2 checklists on the basis of the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines (essential equipment and supplies and policies and protocols checklists). To measure the quality of emergency care, we recruited office teams for simulation sessions consisting of 2 patients: a child with respiratory distress and a child with a seizure. An unweighted percentage of adherence to checklists for each case was calculated. RESULTS Forty-eight teams from 42 offices across 9 states participated. The mean emergency preparedness score was 74.7% (SD: 12.9). The mean essential equipment and supplies subscore was 82.2% (SD: 15.1), and the mean policies and protocols subscore was 57.1% (SD: 25.6). Multivariable analyses revealed that independent practices and smaller total staff size were associated with lower preparedness. The median asthma case performance score was 63.6% (interquartile range: 43.2–81.2), whereas the median seizure case score was 69.2% (interquartile range: 46.2–80.8). Offices that had a standardized process of contacting emergency medical services (EMS) had a higher rate of activating EMS during the simulations. CONCLUSIONS Pediatric office preparedness remains suboptimal in a multicenter cohort, especially in smaller, independent practices. Academic and community partnerships using simulation can help address gaps and implement important processes like contacting EMS.