Emergency medicine crisis resource management (EMCRM): pilot study of a simulation-based crisis management course for emergency medicine.
OBJECTIVE
To determine participant perceptions of Emergency Medicine Crisis Resource Management (EMCRM), a simulation-based crisis management course for emergency medicine.


METHODS
EMCRM was created using Anesthesia Crisis Resource Management (ACRM) as a template. Thirteen residents participated in one of three pilot courses of EMCRM; following a didactic session on principles of human error and crisis management, the residents participated in simulated emergency department crisis scenarios and instructor-facilitated debriefing. The crisis simulations involved a computer-enhanced mannequin simulator and standardized patients. After finishing the course, study subjects completed a horizontal numerical scale survey (1 = worst rating to 5 = best rating) of their perceptions of EMCRM. Descriptive statistics were calculated to evaluate the data.


RESULTS
The study subjects found EMCRM to be enjoyable (4.9 +/- 0.3) (mean +/- SD) and reported that the knowledge gained from the course would be helpful in their practices (4.5 +/- 0.6). The subjects believed that the simulation environment prompted realistic responses (4.6 +/- 0.8) and that the scenarios were highly believable (4.8 +/- 0.4). The participants reported that EMCRM was best suited for residents (4.9 +/- 0.3) but could also benefit students and attending physicians. The subjects believed that the course should be repeated every 8.2 +/- 3.3 months.


CONCLUSIONS
The EMCRM participants rated the course very favorably and believed that the knowledge gained would be beneficial in their practices. The extremely positive response to EMCRM found in this pilot study suggests that this training modality may be valuable in training emergency medicine residents.
Reznek
Martin
M
Center for Advanced Technology in Surgery at Stanford, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA. mreznek@hotmail.com
Smith-Coggins
Rebecca
R
Howard
Steven
S
Kiran
Kanthi
K
Harter
Phillip
P
Sowb
Yasser
Y
Gaba
David
D
Krummel
Thomas
T
D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003479:Curriculum; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D004189:Disaster Planning; D004630:Emergencies; D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000193:education*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D008348:Manikins; D016544:Patient Simulation; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D014481:United States