On 11th-13th March 2016, MIST-Sewagram (MGIMS Institute for Simulation-based Training), conducted its Second American Heart Association (AHA) accredited workshop aimed at teaching health care providers basic and advanced life support.
On 11th March 2016, Dr Vijay Sharma and Dr Dhiraj Bhandari—assistant professors in Anaesthesiology at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Sewagram and centre coordinators for MIST-Sewagram—joined hands with AHA-lead instructor Ms Lydia Agnes to teach participants ABC of resuscitation. Dr Sumedh Jajoo, assistant professor in medicine also joined them as instructor for this course.
They used novel video- based techniques to help participants acquire skills in basic life support that could save dying kids and adults. Among other things, the participants learnt how to use correctly Automated Electronic Defibrillators (AED) and how to relieve a choking adult and a baby. After the six hours of intense training, participants took theory and practical tests that assessed their knowledge and skills.
On 12th and 13th March, participants were taught Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS). The organizers used the 2015 AHA-ECC guidelines to train them. They simulated scenarios with varying rates and rhythms of the heart. Participants, split into three teams of six participants each, practiced coordinated team resuscitation and early management for simulated case scenarios. They also learnt how to interpret and treat abnormal cardiac rhythms, how to administer correctly cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, how to choose correct lifesaving drugs and practice appropriate drug/dose/rhythm sequences.
The participants in the programme comprised of clinical faculty, interns, residents, nursing students and nursing tutors. They applauded and acknowledged the AHA programme of simulation- based learning and felt that they were confident enough to give high- quality cardiopulmonary resuscitation as a single rescuer and could also lead the team for the coordinated group- resuscitation.
As compared to last time, more number of people were trained this time. Total of 24 participants were trained for Basic life support course and 18 participants were trained for Advanced Cardiac life support course (against 12 and 18 numbers last time).
This programme was held in collaboration with TACT Academy of Clinical Training, Chennai—pioneers in the country to develop simulation-based teaching in medical care. Dr N Ramakrishnan (Director TACT and Chennai Critical Care Group), Dr Nithya Pari (Academic coordinator, TACT) and Ms Lydia Agnes, (Lead instructor-Faculty at TACT) appreciated the role of MGIMS in transforming young faculty members into centre coordinators.
MIST-Sewagram has applied to the American Heart association Authorities for becoming an (ITC) International Training Centre seeking independent status. This was second AHA accredited course in simulation-based training in Central India. The next training programme is planned July end; the organizers plan to enroll 24 BLS and 18 ACLS participants in this workshop.
"Shri Dhirubhai Mehta, President, KHS along with other respected management authorities visited the workshop . They had a look at all the mannequins, and their interactions with the organizers and delegates encouraged everyone present at the workshop", reported the coordinators.