Sim News Brief Newsletter of the ECU Brody School of Medicine Interprofessional Clinical Simulation Program

Autumn 2024

Announcements

Welcome new students, residents, fellows, faculty and staff! If you would like a tour of the Simulation Center, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at csc@ecu.edu.

We will be closed November 28-29, 2024 for the Thanksgiving holiday. The winter holiday is also approaching quickly (Dec. 21, 2024 - January 2, 2025). Please let us know if you anticipate needing access to the Simulation Center over Thanksgiving or Winter Break.

Welcome Francisco "Frankie" Elvira, Administrative Support Associate, to the Simulation Team!

Francisco "Frankie" Elvira

The Simbionix Ultrasound Virtual Simulator now has Advanced echocardiography and Transesophageal (TEE) modules. If you are interested, please contact us to schedule a time for orientation to the simulator.

The BSOM Simulation Program is hiring nurse educators and an Associate Dean to join our team. Please see the ECU Human Resources website for more information and how to apply.

Photo right: Incoming M1 Students start their semester with a CPR course. Thanks to Paige Tyson for leading these sessions!

A pediatric trauma scenario in the mobile Healthcare Simulation Unit at UNC Health Nash in Rocky Mount, NC

Simulation Stars

We are grateful for Dr. Walter "Skip" Robey's 30+ years of service by providing emergency care to the Eastern Carolina Community and medical education expertise to the Brody School of Medicine and beyond.

Special thanks to ECU College of Nursing Faculty, Page Mintz, Teradee Hagan, Ron Bolen, Claudia Kitchin, Brittney Weaver, and Sara Bailey for teaching aseptic technique to second year medical students. Their expertise allowed the students to have an interprofessional experience and feedback was excellent!

Paige Mintz and Teradee Hagan teaching aseptic technique to medical students

Photo right: Dr. Walter "Skip" Robey during Central Venous Catheterization training

Renal Biopsy Session with Drs. Obi, Parker, ECU Health Center-Sonographer, and Nephrology fellows.

Program Activity

BSOM M1 students participated in First 5 Minutes®, a simulation where they learn how to recognize and respond to a patient in cardiac arrest.

New graduate medical education trainees participated in multi-day simulation boot camps to learn critical care skills and participate in the Central Venous Catheterization course.

The BSOM OBGYN Interest Group coordinated an activity that included simulated amniotomy, assessing cervical dilation, and a birthing simulation.

Emergency Medicine faculty participated in Butterfly Compass Software Training led by Dr. Kimberly Fender. This software will allow ultrasound POCUS exams to be directly saved into the EHR.

Department of Physician Assistant Studies students have incorporated use of the Laparoscopic Surgery Virtual Simulator into their surgery course.

ECU Department of Physician Assistant Studies student practicing lumbar punctures on a task trainer.

ECU College of Nursing students are attending the M2 Doctoring PDR session this semester. During this interprofessional session, students practice maintaining the sterile field while preparing for acute procedures.

Interprofessional sessions with Internal Medicine residents, College of Nursing students, Pitt Community College Nursing and Respiratory Therapy have resumed after a summer break. These sessions are a great way to begin fall semester!

Ashley Jensen, RN, contributed her experience to the M2 Clinical Applications and their Physical Diagnosis Rotation (PDR). Her nursing expertise allows the medical students to better learn the different roles and responsibilities of a medical team.

Ashley Jensen during debrief for M2 Clinial Applications

BSOM M2 students participated in a Clinical Applications simulation where they applied their knowledge of physiology and pharmacology to diagnose a patient in crisis and provide appropriate interventions. These sessions were led by Emergency Medicine, Cardiology, and Pharmacology faculty.

ECU Health EastCare oriented new employees in the Simulation Center. Orientation includes a multi-day airway management course and assessment of skills.

Pulmonary and Critical Care residents held small-group sessions to learn ventilator management and how to manage a difficult airway. They also practiced responding to codes while communicating effectively as a team.

Dr. Bracken Roberts, EM Chief Resident, spent a four-week elective in the Simulation Center. Critical Care fellows also continue to rotate through the Center as part of their educational curriculum.

Dr. Roberts and EM Residents practicing Cricothyrotomy in the Emergency Procedures Practice Lab

BSOM Family Medicine Clerkship, led by Dr. Gregory House, had musculoskeletal ultrasound sessions where students scan standardized patients' shoulders and knees.

The Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Residency Program participated in rehab-related scenarios including pediatric seizure and spinal cord injury. They also had a session to practice ultrasound-guided peripheral joint injections.

BSOM M3 and M4 students continue to rotate through the Simulation Center as part of their simulation and skills elective.

ECU Health Internal Medicine-Pediatrics residents and Family Medicine residents have started using the virtual ultrasound simulator to practice POCUS exams.

BSOM Anesthesia student interest group practiced intubations, epidurals, and IVs.

Vedika Modi, BSOM M2 student, led a tour of the Simulation Center for alumni as part of Alumni Weekend.

Photo Right: Surgery residents practiced small bowel anastomosis with models created by Dr. Shawn Moore.

Shayli Hendrix, Department of Physician Assistant Studies student, is all smiles while practicing laparoscopic surgery on the LapMentor.

Expanding the Field

Bill Vasios, Simulation Fellow, is working with the College of Nursing, College of Allied Health Sciences, and Dept. of Physician Assistant Studies to plan an interprofessional simulation. He is developing an observational feedback tool for learners to debrief teamwork and communication skills.

BSOM M2 Students, Vedika Modi, Dylan Pressnell, and Hunter Geneau presented their research projects for the Summer Biomedical Research Program.

Vedika Modi presenting her research on The Implementation of Sexual Assault Education for Second Year Medical Students
Dylan Pressnell presenting his research on the Medical Education Factors that Impact Intent to Practice Rural Medicine
Hunter Geneau presenting his research on Simulation Modules for the Identification of Heart Murmurs

The mobile Healthcare Simulation Unit traveled to UNC Health Nash to train hospital staff and EMS personnel. BSOM partnered with ECU Health Pediatric Trauma to lead these sessions.

BSOM Simulation hosted the North Carolina State Highway Patrol for their officers to train on various emergency scenarios in preparation for real life events. The Office of Clinical Skills and Assessment provided standardized patients to make the learning experience more realistic. Officers practiced identifying and responding to an autistic patient in distress, identifying stroke symptoms, responding to respiratory distress, and more (photo right).

Photo Gallery

Contact Us

Phone: (252) 744-3251

Email: csc@ecu.edu

Website: medicine.ecu.edu/clinicalsimulation

Remember, our patients trust us to do it right…every time.