Abstract
Objective: Humanitarian medical and/or surgical missions have become common over the past 50 years. Little is known, however, about the quality of these missions, especially when a patient becomes unstable and requires resuscitation. We would like to present the “mock code” Operation Smile uses to ensure the best quality of care should a medical or surgical emergency arise during a mission. Operation Smile, a worldwide children’s medical charity, provides surgery for children with correctable facial deformities in 51 countries. The mock code was initially implemented as an educational tool to enhance skills and team dynamics. It has become a useful practice for preparing a team of medical professionals to respond to an unexpected medical or surgical emergency. A mock code is performed at each mission prior to the start of the surgical week. The mission team consists of 35-60 members, including medical professionals from many different countries and diverse backgrounds. Team members have varying levels of expertise, and thus a mock code is vital to give good resuscitative care. The volume of cases, the variety of professional backgrounds, the unfamiliar equipment and protocols, the language and cultural barriers, and the fact that these individuals have not previously worked together makes it essential to develop an emergency-preparedness plan. Emergencies involving pediatric patients generate a great deal of anxiety for the child, for the parents, and for the medical and nursing staff involved. Running an emergency code is always a challenge, especially when the patient is a child. Conclusion: The use of this tool allows us to build a special alliance between medical and nursing staff prior to an emergency. The mock code empowers nurses and doctors to feel more prepared to respond to pediatric emergencies and improve the quality of resuscitative care, should the need arise.
Highlights
Operation Smile was founded in 1982 when Dr William P Magee Jr., a plastic surgeon, and his wife, Kathleen, a nurse, assembled a group of doctors, nurses and technicians for a mission to the Philippines to surgically repair children who were born with clefts
The mock code empowers nurses and doctors to feel more prepared to respond to pediatric emergencies and improve the quality of resuscitative care, should the need arise
The mock code is a safety tool that is used on all Operation Smile international medical missions to improve communication between physician and nurses and to maximize patient safety
Summary
Operation Smile was founded in 1982 when Dr William P Magee Jr., a plastic surgeon, and his wife, Kathleen, a nurse, assembled a group of doctors, nurses and technicians for a mission to the Philippines to surgically repair children who were born with clefts. But these risks are amplified in procedures that could essentially affect the airway This is true when it comes to children and families that have had very limited prior healthcare due to infrastructure and resources [1]. When the child has complications, such as a difficult airway, bleeding, or other peri-operative complications, the simplicity of care quickly changes. It is an unexpected, chaotic moment where everyone wants to help, but most providers do not know what role they should play. Operation Smile has a policy that prior to the start of the surgical week, a mock will be done [2,3] This code would be useful in all patient-care settings
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