High fidelity simulations to teach key concepts in emergency department care of the elderly
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine
"High fidelity simulations to teach key concepts in emergency department (ED) care of the elderly" is a series of seven high fidelity simulations designed to instruct ED medical residents as well as other providers who care for the elderly in the ED key concepts of geriatric care. The cases include gastrointestinal bleeding, myocardial infarction, altered mental status, toxicology, sepsis, abdominal aortic aneurysm, and mesenteric ischemia. Core concepts taught include medication interactions, transitions of care, delirium, suicide risks and depression in the elderly, atypical presentations of disease in the elderly, and iatrogenic injuries. The cases have been successfully deployed in an ED resident training program with resulting care improvements for the elderly.
- To increase emergency medicine care givers' knowledge of geriatric principals of care
- To promote safe delivery of care for geriatric patients in emergency departments
- To encourage emergency medicine care givers to consider the particular aspects of geriatric medicine when caring for elderly patients in the ED
- To encourage collaboration and enhanced communication in caring for critically ill elderly patients
- Each simulation scenario has its own specific learning objectives and topics to discuss during debriefing.