SIM-Skills & Students

From the Desk of

Professor Jayaraj Mymbilly Balakrishnan, MD, FACEE
Chair of Emergency Medicine
Kasturba Medical College and Hospital, Manipal
Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Udupi, Karnataka, INDIA

The transition from classrooms and textbooks to managing real emergencies in patients is often overwhelming. Performing procedures, working as a team, having a methodical approach in an emergency patient in the midst of the adrenaline surge are a few of the challenges faced by undergraduates. The Departments of Emergency Medicine and Medical Education, KMC Manipal in association with Tempus Prestioso, Emergency Medicine Student Interest Group of KMC, Manipal, organized “SIM&SKILLS 2018” on April 7, 2018, to introduce to the tool of simulation into the armory of undergraduate learning.

We started the day at 8 am, and went straight to business after a brief introduction to our faculty. The tEaM (the Department of Emergency Medicine, KMC, Manipal) was joined by Dr. Geethanjali Ramachandra, Pediatric intensivist and Vice President of Ped STARS, Dr. Sunil Karanth, Chairman, Critical Care Medicine, Manipal Health Enterprises Private Limited, Dr. H M Krishna, Professor, Dept. of Anaesthesiology, KMC, Manipal and Dr. Vimal Krishnan, Principal Secretary of Emergency Medicine Association, India. We started the day with an icebreaker, where the students juggled balls and passed to each other, only to realize the importance of team dynamics and preparedness. This was followed by video demonstration of an ACLS scenario and live demonstration of a trauma scenario. This gave them a taste of the day ahead which we had planned for them.

41 undergraduate students were then divided into 2 groups. One half had simulation scenarios in the first half of the day, other half had skill stations. Afternoon, the 2 groups switched and participated in the other session.

During the scenario sessions, the students were divided into smaller groups and made to perform 2 simulation scenarios. 1st scenario was STEMI with its complication of pulseless VT. 2ndscenario was a trauma patient with tension pneumothorax. The scenarios used high technology mannequin with high fidelity. This is the first time immersive high fidelity team based simulation was used for a large group of medicinal students in India.After each scenario, the students were debriefed. We used the method of video debriefing, and students gave us good insight into their thought process and learnt various aspects of emergency patient care and team dynamics. At the end, they were given the opportunity to perform as a team again, and they showed significant improvement. All the participants felt that team work was one of the key takeaways from the day.

During the skill sessions, the students were taken through a wide array of skills. This included airway maneuvers, airway adjuncts, bag mask ventilation, intubation, needle thoracentesis, chest compressions, defibrillation, peripheral venous cannulation, arterial puncture. Each of the participants were given hands on experience in all the above skills and allocated adequate time for practice and clearing doubts. Live demonstration of Intercostal drain placement was done. The participants felt more confident in performing the skills after these sessions.

At the end of this SIM tastic day, the students took home a new way to learn- through simulation. The day concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Jayaraj Mymbilly Balakrishnan, Professor and Head, Dept. of Emergency Medicine, KMC, Manipal. Our respected Dean, Dr. Pragna Rao, advocated the students to incorporate simulation into their learning.

The day ended, leaving everyone wanting for more. Target achieved. tEaM signing off. Until next time, keep simulating….

Related News:

About INDUSEM

The INDUSEM mission is to envision and implement the future of Patient Care across the world. The partnership brings together Expert Educators, Inquisitive Innovators and Physicians supporting Safe Patient Care across India, United States and the World. INDUSEM is the Top International Partnership across the World and brings together Institutions, Individuals and Initiatives focused on improving patient care globally. Till date INDUSEM has reached over 50,000 Experts and its reach continues to grow daily. For more information, visit www.indusem.org

About EMA

The Emergency Medicine Association was founded in 2015 during the INDUSEM2015 World Congress of Academic Emergency Medicine in New Delhi. EMA is the Official voice of competent Emergency Experts. Working towards provision of quality emergency care The EMA is an organized Guild of Emergency Leaders in Health and Medicine. Focused on Developing, Practicing and Progressing Emergency Medicine. EMA has a strong relation with partner organizations, individuals and institutions across the world. The EMA boasts of a strong DNA with its relationships which are geared towards potentiating growth. EMA has the support of the INDO-US Emergency and Trauma Collaborative, the Academic College of Emergency Experts in India and the Academic for Clinical Emergency Nursing in India. For More Information: www.emaindia.net

About ACEE

The Academic College of Emergency Experts was established by Leaders of INDUSEM to create a guild of expert clinicians who are have a mastery at providing safe patient care with high quality therapeutics based on latest evidence based medicine. The only Unique College in Asia, ACEE only bestows affiliation after a rigorous coaching and testing process hereby maintaining its high standards of commitment to education and excellence. It surpasses the erstwhile ideology of existing academic colleges where affiliation is based on recommendation. There are multiple pathways to be a Fellow of the College namely Emergency Medicine, Emergency Pediatrics. Toxicology, Emergency Nursing Pathway etc. For More Information visit www.acee-india.org

About KMC, Manipal

Kasturba Medical College (KMC) is a medical college based in Manipal, Udupi District, Karnataka, India. Established by Dr. T.M.A. Pai on 30 June 1953, KMC Manipal is one of the most prestigious and premier medical colleges in India.National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) Rankings for Universities in India, announced by the Union HRD Ministry on April 3, 2018 ranked KMC, Manipal as the fourth best medical college in India. KMC also has the distinction of being the first self-financing medical college in India. Today, students from over 44 countries have graduated from KMC, and the medical degree (MBBS) is recognized worldwide, including by the General Medical Council, ECFMG, Australian Medical Council and Malaysian Medical Council among several others.

For More information visit : https://manipal.edu/kmc-manipal.html

About Tempus Prestioso

Tempus Prestioso is KMC’s probably India’s first undergraduate medical student Enthusiast Club dedicated exclusively to Emergency Medicine. Started in 2016, the club works in close association with the Department of Emergency Medicine, KMC Manipal and is also patronized by Emergency Medicine Association, India and INDUSEM. The major activities of the club include organizing academic programs, volunteering, operating at the national level for spreading awareness regarding the need for orientation towards emergency medical education and skill acquisition.

For more information visit : https://www.facebook.com/tempuspretioso/