Simulation Safety Project Receives National Recognition

(Jan. 5, 2007) -- The Institute for Healthcare Improvement has named a study led by the University of Minnesota School of Public Health and Fairview Health Services as one of the Top 10 Improvement Ideas of 2006.

The project, In-Situ Simulation Training for OB Emergencies, is aimed at improving hospital patient safety. William Riley, Ph.D., associate professor in the School of Public Health and lead investigator, is partnering with Fairview Health Services to conduct safety simulations in Fairview hospitals. While past efforts have focused on the technical skills of doctors, nurses, and technicians, this new training aims to improve a critical element of safety that is much more difficult to measure: communication and team dynamics.

"Experts are finding that threats to patient safety are not because hospital staff lack technical skills or a commitment to safety," says Riley. "Rather, most often, the cause is a breakdown in communication among hospital staff."

Unlike most hospital safety training that occurs in classrooms or simulation laboratories, in-situ training happens in the same labor and delivery units and operating rooms where teams work. The simulations are fast-paced and involve emergency "stressors"--things that suddenly go wrong with a patient or procedure. High-tech audio and video equipment record the action so medical teams can review their performance in a post-simulation debriefing.

"In-situ training improves both one-on-one and inter-departmental communication, illuminates hidden problems, and allows risk-free testing and process improvements," says Stan Davis, M.D., medical quality consultant at Fairview Southdale Hospital.

Riley is also collaborating with pilots from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to develop the training. Similar to exercises done in the airline industry, the medical trainers track the "near-misses" of each simulation to prospectively look at potential errors.

"When the teams see the playback of their simulation on screen, they realize immediately where communication can be improved, processes are failed, and mistakes are made," says Riley. "In 25 years of training, this is the most powerful teaching method I've ever seen."

The project is a collaborative effort between a multidisciplinary team of University of Minnesota faculty and Fairview Health Services practitioners. Project researchers include: Helen Hansen, Ph.D., R.N., associate professor at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing; Karyn Baum, M.D., associate professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School; Stan Davis, M.D.; and Kristi Miller, R.N., C., M.S., clinical nurse leader at Fairview Southdale Hospital.

Participating hospitals include Fairview Southdale Hospital, Fairview Ridges Hospital, Fairview Lakes Hospital, Fairview Northland Hospital, Fairview Red Wing Medical Center, and the University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview.

Contact
Liz Wulderk, Academic Health Center, 612-624-5680
Ryan Davenport, Fairview Health Services, 612-672-4164