The Ohio State University College of Medicine, in collaboration with the Ohio Department of Children and Youth, has developed an innovative simulation-based training: "Virtual Obstetric Emergency Simulation Training for Emergency Medicine Providers." Developed in connection with Ohio CORES (Collaborative Obstetric Resuscitation Education and Simulation) and with support from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the program takes a vital step towards enhancing maternal health in Ohio.
Meeting a Need for Ohio Providers and Patients
In 2019, the Ohio Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review (PAMR) data identified an alarming increase in pregnancy-related mortality rates between 2008 and 2016 (see A Report on Pregnancy-Associated Deaths in Ohio, 2008-2016). Twenty-three percent of the deaths occurred in an outpatient or emergency department setting.
The Virtual Obstetric Emergency Simulation Training offers much-needed education to first responders, emergency medicine providers, and practitioners at locations without ready access to obstetric services. Participants gain the essential knowledge and skills needed to respond effectively to obstetric emergencies and improve patient outcomes, including recognizing emergency signs and symptoms and practicing initial interventions. The training sessions, which leverage high-fidelity simulators and a robust standardized patient program, have been offered both in-person and in a novel virtual simulation format.
The training program is led by a dedicated team of physician faculty, including Drs. Cynthia Shellhaas, Jennifer Mitzman, Kimberly Bambach, and expert nurse educators Nicole McGarity and Katie Connell. The Clinical Skills Education and Assessment Center (CSEAC), led by Medical Director Dr. Sheryl Pfeil and Associate Director Amy Helder, is integral to the initiative, providing comprehensive medical simulation facilities and advanced simulation training.
Upcoming Learning Opportunities
If you are a medical practitioner interested in emergency obstetric training, registration is open for a virtual session on Monday, July 28, from 7:45 a.m. - noon.
On your own time, you can explore a six-part podcast series from Ohio CORES to learn about high-stakes scenarios in obstetric emergency care, including postpartum hemorrhage, hypertensive emergencies, cardiac arrest, and more.