(O-F1) Remote Learner as Team Leader: A High-fidelity Telesimulation Experience for Global Emergency Medicine Trainees

Objectives: Telesimulation is a feasible and effective education tool capable of connecting resource-limited training programs with experienced educators and high-fidelity simulators for remote simulation-based education to hone team leadership, communication, and clinical reasoning skills.

Background: Global medical training programs can face significant barriers to simulation-based education (SBE), including high learner-to-instructor ratios and limited access to simulation equipment and available space. Telesimulation uses communication technology to connect distanced learners with simulation instructors for SBE. We developed a novel telesimulation modality that enables a remote learner to practice team leadership and communication skills through a high-fidelity mannequin-based simulation experience.

Methods: Using six Zoom-enabled devices, a team of Vanderbilt educators facilitated a telesimulation experience for ten Guyanese emergency medicine resident learners [figure 1]. Each participant individually led the resuscitation of a critically ill simulated patient with aortic dissection. Over Zoom, learners could visualize three real-time audiovisual inputs: foot-of-bed patient view, clinical data, and vital sign monitor [figure 2]. Participants completed anonymous surveys rating aspects of the simulation experience on a five-point Likert scale.

Results: Participants rated the clinical scenario and simulated environment as highly realistic (mean=4.2, SD=0.63; mean=4.2, SD=0.79), finding the virtual format comparable to an in-person simulation (mean=3.8, SD=1.03). The teleconferencing platform was easy to use (mean=4.3, SD=0.67) and did not detract from their experience (mean=4.2, SD=0.79). Learners reported greater confidence in resuscitating critically ill patients (mean=4.2, SD=0.63) and managing aortic dissections (mean=4.7, SD=0.48). Learners wished to participate in more telesimulation sessions (mean=4.6, SD=0.52), describing telesimulation as a valuable educational experience (mean=4.5, SD=0.53) that will improve their team leadership and communication skills (mean=4.6, SD=0.52; mean=4.6, SD=0.52) as well as their performance in an actual clinical environment (mean=4.7, SD=0.48) [figure 3].

Conclusions: Our novel telesimulation modality is a feasible and effective educational tool. Participants found the virtual platform comparable to in-person simulation, providing a realistic environment for training team leadership, communication, and clinical reasoning skills. Telesimulation may be broadly applicable to the global medical education community, connecting resource-limited training programs with experienced educators and simulators for remote SBE.

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Funding (Optional): Not applicable