Human Patient Simulation™

Patient case scenarios we have developed to date are:

• acute coronary syndrome
• community acquired pneumonia
• Clostridium Difficile disease
• cyanide toxicity
• a pain management scenario is being developed

Student pharmacists work in groups of 3-4 during these realistic, hospital-based scenarios to implement a therapeutic plan for the patient. Immediately following the simulation, the faculty facilitator conducts a debriefing. Communication efficiency, professional attitude, clinical skills and knowledge, error identification, and critical thinking are addressed by the facilitator using a detailed grading rubric.

Recognition and appropriate treatment of medical emergencies is an important patient care skill for pharmacists. Through Human Patient Simulation™ scenarios in a community pharmacy setting, student pharmacists are challenged to use their physiological assessment skills and clinical knowledge to implement appropriate treatment.

Healthcare providers and emergency responders involved in acute care require training and practice in recognizing and treating rare, but potentially devastating, exposures to toxic agents, such as cyanide.

This scenario gives participants the opportunity to recognize cyanide exposure and differentiate it from other biological or chemical exposures. Additionally, the scenario allows participants to design and deliver the appropriate therapy to effectively treat cyanide toxicity – both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic for treatment and support of the patient. Read the report on our cyanide scenario.

Since May 2009, faculty from the WSU Colleges of Pharmacy and Nursing and the University of Washington physician assistant program have collaborated to conduct interprofessional simulation scenarios in the following content areas:

• Adult Shortness of Breath
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
• Pediatric Respiratory Distress

WSU pharmacy and nursing students, nursing students from Spokane Community College, and UW physician assistant students were included in all three scenarios, with the addition of first-year UW medical students during the ACLS scenario.

Each scenario lasted approximately 20 minutes and was immediately followed with a 30 minute debriefing session facilitated by faculty from all disciplines. The four global learning objectives for each simulation included the following:

• Demonstrate appropriate discipline specific skills.
• Diagnose and implement appropriate initial treatment plan.
• Demonstrate professional communication skills in a healthcare team.
• Communicate effectively when giving a patient case report for nursing change of shift and/or a clinical case presentation to a consultant or preceptor.

Pharmacy students are included in interprofessional simulations with the baby simulator owned by the WSU College of Nursing.

Human Patient Simulation™ is used to teach first-year pharmacy students how to do a physical assessment on a patient. The students learn about normal and abnormal sounds from the heart, bowels, and breath, and how to check blood pressure, pulse, blood glucose, cholesterol and more.

SimMan can be programmed to display an infection and respond to medication. The manikin might have cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease or exhibit a swollen tongue. Students not only learn and practice physical assessment skills, but also practice communicating with patients.

The College of Pharmacy is using Human Patient Simulation™ with teenagers attending summer camps at WSU to introduce them to what a pharmacist does beyond counting pills. Campers are introduced to the “patient”, are allowed ask him questions, and are taught how to use basic physical assessment skills (i.e. blood pressure, pulse, respiratory rate, heart and lung sounds).