The Status of Human Simulation Training in Emergency Medicine Residency Programs

Abstract

: The objective of this study was to describe the availability and current use of high-fidelity mannequin-based simulation (HFMB) in emergency medicine (EM) training programs. : A 12-item survey instrument was used to collect data on the status of human simulation training at the 126 approved EM residencies and the 30 accredited osteopathic EM residencies. : In all, 114 out of 156 programs completed the survey for a response rate of 73%. There are 54 (47%) EM training programs with HFMB simulators at their institution, 38 (33%) EM training programs with access to these HFMB simulators, and 33 (29%) EM training programs that have EM residents use HFMB simulators. The Department of Anesthesia manages the HFMB simulator at 19 (17%) institutions. EM manages the HFMB simulator at nine (8%) institutions. EM residents are using HFMB simulation every 1-2 weeks at three (8%) programs, every 1-4 months at 16 (42%) programs, yearly at nine (24%) programs, and not regularly at 10 (26%) programs. The simulation curriculum is described as "no formal curriculum" or "initial development" in 60% of programs. : HFMB simulation technology has not been completely adopted by EM training programs even when it is available. Most EM training programs are using HFMB simulation less often than every month and curriculum development in EM training is still in the early phases.