International Journal of Healthcare Simulation

Background:

Traditionally our university-affiliated Office of IPE delivers a 3-phase (exposure, immersion, competence) inter-professional education (IPE) curriculum which is a graduation requirement for students. On 13 March 2020, on-site classes were suspended due to the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the state. Faculty rapidly implemented alternative methods of instruction to complete coursework for the spring semester utilizing COVID-19 as the educational focus and hosting these learning events on the virtual platform.

Aim:

The aim of the study was to lean into the educational opportunities provided by the global pandemic to continue to provide high-quality IP education including simulation, crafting these educational events to meet the pandemic needs of our community.

Method/design:

During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare students and faculty stepped forward with a desire to serve during this health crisis. Several public health support programmes were provided by the academic health centre and IP educational activities were crafted around these. Such programmes included: a 1–800 COVID-19 hotline providing rapid access to health screening to assist the community in understanding when and where they should access the healthcare system for testing or care; a Contact Tracing Call Center to identify those with exposure and risk and counsel next steps; and provision of public health information regarding the virus and the vaccine. IP Faculty developed a series of IP simulations to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to serve in these public health support areas. These simulations were all structured utilizing an initial brief (detailing Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) domains and Patient- and Family-Centered Care principles), followed by scenario-specific education such as IP team review of screening algorithm and decision tree for hotline and call centre work, with subsequent standardized patient (SP) interaction, and finally IP debriefing. Five simulations involving 190 students occurred. Evaluation metrics collected included pre-/post-Interprofessional Collaborative Competencies Attainment Survey (ICCAS), evaluation of learning objectives, SP interaction and simulation methodology via Likert scale, and identification of themes from qualitative response items.

Implementation outline:

Inter-professional simulation training activity via an online platform supported student learning for COVID-19 disease information, screening algorithm and decision tree tools and telemedicine delivery. The rapidly implemented virtual training prepares students to graduate whilst also supporting the state during this public health crisis. This work provides a template by which curricula can pivot to meet the needs of all key stakeholders during a time of global crisis.