Mobile simulation team conducts first musculoskeletal training
By Gerald Sonnenberg
EES Marketing and Communication
TOMAH, Wisc. – SimLEARN’s Mobile Simulation Training Team’s (MSTT) mission is to maximize training capacities at the local-facility level by bringing simulation-based training to health care facilities. During April 10-12, MSTT completed its first Musculoskeletal (MSK) Knee and Shoulder course training at the VA Medical Center (VAMC) in Tomah. This face-to-face simulation training is designed to enhance primary care providers’ knowledge, skills and confidence to manage common musculoskeletal (MSK) problems. In addition, this training emphasizes appropriate resource utilization and access to specialty care.
“This was the first delivery of the MSTT MSK course material since the pilot, and with just of few minor adjustments to the power point presentations, the courses went off without a hitch,” said Kristen M. Hanten, RN, MSN, simulation nurse educator. “We had two very knowledgeable presenters, Dr. Laura Kim and Dr. Lee Morrow, who offered didactic, demonstration and hands-on practice of the material.”
MSTT expands the link between the VHA SimLEARN National Simulation Center in Orlando, Florida as a hub for VAMCs, outpatient facilities and community based outpatient clinics (CBOC) for health care delivery. The team not only conducts mobile delivery of on-site training for staff, it also conducts simulation-based process improvement evaluations that produce risk identification reports for quality improvement to improve the delivery of care for Veterans. It trains health care providers on site to minimize the impact clinical training has on services provided to Veterans. MSTT also provides clinical expertise and training equipment required to support simulation-based training at rural or remote VHA clinical facilities and provides increased training opportunities to the clinical workforce to improve skills and Veteran patient outcomes.
According to Hanten, the consensus on this first training at Tomah was positive as they received comments like, “I was never taught a good shoulder exam until this course,” “This course went beyond my expectations, all the information was pertinent and useful and the instructors were great,” and “Loved the hands on with immediate feedback like ‘push harder’ or ‘move your hands here.’”
Hanten added, “We are looking forward to bringing our MSK courses to more rural CBOCs, as well as busy hospitals providing comprehensive training to staff and providers that otherwise would not be able to travel to attend such training elsewhere.”
For more information about MSTT, click here.
