The role of simulation in preparing the healthcare workforce for providing guideline adapted advanced cardiac life support for COVID‐19 patients

• Published in: Internal Medicine Journal Vol. 51; no. 4; pp. 620 - 621
• Main Authors: Yang, Wesley, Charlton, Gabriella, Ma, Christine, Ratwatte, Seshika D., Langford, Kiri, Ward, Louise, Jackson, John, Huynh, Ronald, Dawson, Christopher, Kim, James C. H., Yeong, Clarence, Kol, Mark, Shah, Asim, Yu, Christopher
• Format: Journal Article Web Resource
• Language: English
• Published: Melbourne John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd 01.04.2021; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc; John Wiley & Sons, Inc
• Subjects: Advanced Cardiac Life Support; COVID-19; Delivery of Health Care; Humans; Letter to the Editor; Letters to the Editor; SARS-CoV-2; Workforce
• ISSN: 1444-0903; 1445-5994
• DOI: 10.1111/imj.15203

A major concern has been the increased risk to healthcare workers of contracting COVID‐19, particularly when performing aerosol‐generating procedures such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).1, 2 This risk is compounded by the potential lapses in adherence to newly developed COVID‐19 resuscitation guidelines and using personal protective equipment (PPE). See PDF.] Our survey data showed a marked increase in simulation participants' knowledge of the new COVID‐19 CPR guidelines, confidence and competence in PPE use and providing CPR. In particular, the importance of non‐technical skills, such as situational awareness in the early recognition of a patient's infection status, advanced care planning discussions, navigation of communication difficulties caused by PPE and establishing clean and unclean personnel and equipment, minimised virus transmission across surfaces, equipment and between staff.