Training for safer patient transport

Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford Transport Advanced Training, in partnership with the Center for Advanced Pediatric and Perinatal Education (CAPE), nurses, respiratory care providers and medical control physicians from the Packard Critical Care Transport team, participated in a new high-fidelity, simulation-based training program. Clinical scenarios developed from real-life cases were included in the training to improve clinical care and patient and staff safety during transport. The simulations applied maximum stress and challenged the cognitive, technical and behavioral skills that the team must use when transporting a critically ill patient to the hospital.

When asked why it was important to build this first-of-its-kind training, Patient Care Manager for Medical Transport Andrew Palmquist, RN, simply said, “It saves lives.” Palmquist went on to explain that this training is critical to the team, as it establishes best practices and protocols for increasing patient safety. The simulations, conducted in a moving ambulance, were filmed, and the participants reviewed their performance and discussed opportunities for improvement during debriefing sessions. Some of the training objectives included: code resuscitation, advanced skills, critical thinking, team dynamics and ethical issues.

During the debriefing sessions, the participants commented that they appreciated this first-of-its-kind training opportunity. One participant noted that it was an “Excellent day. I only wish we could do it more! It’s the best training I’ve ever had in this position.”