Staff Collaborate for International Presentation
SAN ANTONIO - Staff from the Olin E. Teague Veterans Medical Center in Temple, Texas and Audie L. Murphy Memorial VA Hospital in San Antonio collaborated for a presentation on Veteran suicide at the 2019 International Meeting on Simulation in Healthcare (IMSH) event in January. The presentation addressed suicide prevention and offered simulations on the topic.
The simulation modalities included standardized patients, role playing, telephone and table-top simulations to bring awareness of the Operation S.A.V.E. Program. Operation S. A. V. E. is a program designed to help you act with care and compassion if you encounter a person who is suicidal. The acronym “SAVE” summarizes the steps needed to take an active and valuable role in suicide prevention: Signs of suicidal thinking; Ask questions; Validate the person’s experience; Encourage treatment; and Expedite getting help.
Kristy Causey, RN; Debra Bartoshevich, MSN, both simulation program directors, along with Dr. Bonnie Haupt, DNP, RN, from Audie L. Murphy VA and Diane Ferguson, BSN, from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, presented comparison data regarding the effectiveness of using a standardized patient versus table-top simulation. The submitted title of the hot-topic was, “It’s your Call 1-800-273-8255 Operation S.A.V.E. Preventing Veterans Suicide.”
####
