Obtaining support, resources: training program promotes teamwork in obstetric crises.(Obstetrics)

FT. MYERS, FLA. -- A simulation-based training program builds the teamwork and communication skills necessary for effective obstetric crisis management, Dr. Susanne Parekh reported at the annual meeting of the Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatology.

The training program, which is akin to flight simulation used for training pilots, involves a computerized mannequin and fetal heart rate simulators. Obstetricians, along with obstetric nurses and anesthesiologists, train for 6 hours in a realistic medical setting with all the tools and devices used in practice, and their response to simulated crises are videotaped, said Dr. Parekh, who is a clinical fellow in anesthesiology at Harvard Medical School, Boston.

Participants and staff members then review the videotapes, and trained instructors provide debriefing.

Supportive feedback is provided in a non-critical environment designed to enhance the teamwork skills necessary for reacting to adverse events.

Specifically, the course is designed to teach participants how to obtain support and proper resources during a crisis event, clarify individual roles of team members, communicate appropriately and effectively, and maintain global assessment--that is, to avoid becoming fixated on one particular aspect of the crisis at the expense of overall resolution.

The ultimate goal is to reduce medical errors in actual clinical practice, Dr. Parekh said.

The training program is held ...