Interprofessional Simulation in Accredited Paramedic Programs

Abstract

Introduction: Healthcare leaders advocate for interprofessional education as a means to promote collaborative practice, enhance interdisciplinary communication, and improve patient safety in the health professions. There is little evidence specific to interprofessional simulation in paramedic education. Methods: The National Association of EMS Educators (NAEMSE) surveyed paramedic programs that were accredited or in the process of becoming accredited. Program respondents were asked to characterize their resources and their use of those resources, and then were asked about their perceptions pertaining to simulation in their program. Chi-square analysis was used to compare characteristics of programs that participated in interdisciplinary simulation with those that did not. Results: Of the 389 of 638 (61%) paramedic program survey respondents, 44% (159 of 362) report interprofessional simulation. They perceived they used the right amount of simulation more frequently than other paramedic programs X2 (1, N=362) = 8.425, p X2 (1, N=362) = 11.751, pX2 (1, N=356) = 8.838, pX2 (1, N=362) = 4.704, pX2 (1, N=362) = 11.508 pX2 (1, N=362) = 5.495, pX2 (1, N=359) = 12.595, p<0.01.Conclusion: This research suggests that paramedic programs conducting interdisciplinary simulation indicated they have greater access to resources and faculty training to support simulation.

Integration of healthcare simulation activities into the paramedic education curriculum: an embedded case study analysis of the decision-making process

“…Additionally, the study will gain insight into their views about simulation as an effective educational tool, their understanding of curriculum design, and where the use of simulation is integrated into the paramedic curriculum. This is an important aspect of this study since research has indicated that simulation is much less frequently used as the paramedic curriculum progresses, and very little if at all during the field clinicals and field internship phases (McKenna et al, 2015), but the reasons and processes behind where to use simulation have not been investigated. This knowledge is significant because it will assist program directors in their decision-making process in relation to the use of simulation and at what point it may be best integrated in the curriculum.…”

“…There has been little research done on the role of simulation in paramedic programs (McKenna et al, 2015). Additionally, no identified research has been found on the decision-making processes for program directors of paramedic education programs in community colleges, or even in other settings.…”

“…NAEMSE has also published "Simulation in EMS Education: Charting the Future" (2015). This document, created by a consensus group of subject matter experts and based on the findings of the Simulation Use in Paramedic Education (SUPER) study (McKenna et al, 2015), provides guidelines and recommendations to EMS educators regarding the implementation of simulation into EMS curriculums. This document is a useful resource and can be considered to have key principles for paramedic programs on which they can build the decision-making process for the use of simulation as an educational tool.…”

“…It is since roughly 1985, and more concurrently since the turn of the century, that can be described as the modern era of simulation and has seen simulation become much more technologically oriented and embedded in healthcare education (Gaba, 2011). The use of simulation in paramedic education is common (McKenna et al, 2015) and includes the early adoption of the use of simulation in assessing terminal competency for licensure beginning in 1978 (NREMT, 2015).…”

“…Simulation as an educational methodology allows educators to replicate patients in very realistic ways, preparing paramedics for the challenges they will face when licensed. However, simulation is not used consistently in paramedic education programs around the country (McKenna et al, 2015). This study will investigate how the decisions are made to implement simulation in paramedic education programs.…”