Simulation and training at the Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital

Abstract

The use of simulation systems employing dummies may be considered to be the first step in advanced simulation using dedicated software. The interest in simulation has been inspired by experience gained in industries with a common complexity and intrinsic risk. Simulation plays a central role in enabling continuous training with rare clinical situations in which experience could not normally be gained. The development of specific devices and systems for paediatrics and neonatology has seen the use of simulators extended to paediatrics. Paediatric emergency care is a high-risk, low-frequency event and therefore an ideal field for simulation using advanced systems. This has led to the introduction of simulation in the Emergency Department of the Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital in order to ensure: the identification and assessment of organisational healthcare models; promotion and collaboration between medical departments and units; the elaboration and proposal of guidelines; the promotion of the technical–professional qualifications of staff members; and the planning and implementation of training and simulation activities. Thus, the medical and nursing staff of the Emergency and Admissions Department and the Emergency and Admissions/Pediatric Intensive Care Unit have trained 210 physicians/nurses on 14 Pediatric Basic Life Support Defibrillator courses every year and 50 physicians/nurses on two Pediatric Advanced Life Support courses every year, as well as running several simulation courses ‘in situ’. Role-play is a key element of the educational techniques that use simulation in situ and is an effective method of ensuring the active participation of trainees. Medical simulation in situ is a necessary component of paediatric care training. It is increasingly used at the Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital in the context of multidisciplinary team training for patient safety.