Mobile SimVan Making paediatric simulation based learning accessible to rural and remote Victoria

Denielle BeardmoreRN. MaEd, Grad Dip Ed & T, Grad Dip Adv Clinical Nursing Oncology Palliative Care,

B.Health Sci, Dip Project M’Ment, Cert IV TAADirector of Nursing – Education and Practice

DevelopmentBallarat Health Services

Project Lead for Grampians SLE

Peter TimmsRN, BaNsing, Grad Cert T.Ed, Grad Cert Paeds,

Cert IV TAA, Paediatric/ Simulation Nurse Educator

Ballarat Health Services

Duncan McNeilBSc Hon

Director Cartesian Creative

Background Context - Features of the Grampians Region

The Context of Our Regional Workforce• 3,500 Nurses, 410 Medical Practitioners, 756 Allied and Oral health professionals employed in the region• Majority work in the public health system• Average age of an RN is 47 y.o• Average of a Midwife is 52 y.o• Nursing placement days from our two major universities in the region in 2010=17,762 projected in 2013= 31,807 • A 79.1% growth, 43.9% of this growth will occur in Ballarat, 56% in the rest of the region

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Regional Paediatric Context Ballarat Health Services (BHS) is the sole paediatric referral

centre servicing the Grampians Region BHS’s Paediatric and Adolescent Unit is a general, acute

care unit comprising 14 inpatient and 6 day procedure beds

The Unit admits approx 220 pts per month (2640 annually)The closest tertiary service is 1 hour and 15 minutes away

Average length of stay is approx 3 days Approximately 30% of these admissions originate from

regional referrals

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Methods/Design• Taking simulation to the people• Benchmark prior experience/design: Flinders

University/NHS Scotland• On-board vehicle simlab vs local environment

simlab• Ensure equality of accessibility, online booking

system• Simulation education for regional based

clinical educators. “First Steps”

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SimVan.org.auSimulation can afford opportunities of exposure to paediatric clinical situations

Encourage high standard of accountability

Performance consistent with values

Repeat and rehearse in a safe environment

Safeguard patient / client safety

Requires alignment of national developments with regulation

Build capability in staff

Innovation in delivery modality demands innovative use of technology

ResultsWhy develop “Control Room”

• Mobile simulation demands mobile A/V capture/playback

• Current technology is designed primarily for fixed/embedded applications

• Adapting currently available A/V technology to a mobile environment is problematic

• A clean sheet approach was adopted to solve these inherent problems

Results Advantages of “Control Room”

• Simplicity and portability• Uses unique, bespoke software• Secure WiFi communication• Allows for Multi camera, real time editing• Snapshot & note taking facility• Enables rapid record/playback

Limitations• 30000 square mile region serviced by one

SimVan• Bookings outstripping availability• Inherent with the style of delivery comes

time spent travelling• “Control room” prototype continues to be

developed/refined. Production version not yet available

ConclusionsSimulation based learning can work effectively in a mobile environment

SimVan brings a new learning experience to rural/remote clinicians which was previously inaccessible to them

All key components of immersive Sim learning can be packaged in a mobile format

There is a need to expand this type of service

A questions for group

Question 1 In taking simulation out of the controlled environment of the Simlab and skewing its delivery to best suit the context of the participants, is it inevitable that some of the integrity of simulation learning philosophy is lost?

References

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• Flinders University, 2012. Personal conversations, notation taken.

• Department of Health, 2013. Grampians statics for early childhood and population, Melbourne. (website accessed 12/3/2013).

• NHS Education for Scotland, 2011. Scottish Simulation Centre, Clinical Skills Managed Educational Network, UK. (Accessed February 2012).