P109: Education innovation: pediatric emergencies curriculum for emergency physicians

Abstract

Introduction: Tertiary care emergency departments (EDs) in large urban environments may have a low volume of high acuity pediatric presentations due to their proximity to dedicated childrens hospitals or large community centres. This may lead to discomfort among emergency physicians (EPs) and registered nurses (RNs) in managing these patients and a waning of knowledge and skills for this unique population. Among the EP group at our institution, 68% indicated they managed pediatric patients in less than 25% of their shifts, 68% also indicated they were uncomfortable managing an undifferentiated critically unwell neonate and only 32% indicated they would be comfortable teaching pediatric topics to emergency medicine residents. At our institution, our innovation was to create a useful curriculum for certified EPs and RNs to improve the interdisciplinary teams comfort level, knowledge and skill set when managing pediatric emergencies. Methods: A needs assessment was undertaken of the EPs and RNs working in our centre. This information was used to develop intended learning outcomes in a collaborative manner with the clinical nursing educator and physician curriculum leads. The team further collaborated with the local simulation centre and a pediatric emergency physician from the local childrens hospital. Results: A one-year, three-module curriculum was developed to cover the areas felt to be highest yield by the EP group: febrile illness, respiratory disease and critically ill neonates and infants. Each module contains three components: an in person interactive lecture delivered by an EP who routinely manages pediatric patients, either at a childrens hospital or large community centre; an online component with e-mail blasts of high yield pediatric content; and, culminating in an interdisciplinary interdepartmental simulation held in situ. This latter is particularly important so that all members of the interdisciplinary team can practice finding and using equipment based on its actual location within the ED. Each component of each module is then evaluated by the participants to ensure improvement for subsequent delivery. Conclusion: Well delivered continuing professional development (CPD) will become increasingly important as competence by design becomes the model for maintenance of certification. Maintaining skills for pediatric patients is an important component of CPD for physicians working in general emergency departments that see a low volume of high acuity pediatric presentations. Our curriculum seeks to address this identified need in an innovative manner using a modular and interdisciplinary approach with a diversity of teaching methods to appeal to the learning styles among our health care team.