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Does simulation have a role in palliative medicine specialty training?
  1. Lucy N Walker1 and
  2. Lynne Russon2
  1. 1St Catherine's Hospice, Scarborough, UK
  2. 2Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice, Leeds, UK
  1. Correspondence to Dr Lucy N Walker, St Catherine's Hospice, Scarborough, UK; lucynwalker{at}doctors.org.uk

Abstract

Simulation training has been adopted by other industries, particularly aviation, for many years. With patient safety on every agenda, more recently there has been considerable interest and investment in its use for the acute medical specialities. Evidence in palliative medicine, for the use of simulation is mainly limited to advanced communication skills but little is described about its use in developing acute clinical skills. This article describes how in the Yorkshire and Humber Deanery a simulation training day was set up for Palliative Medicine specialty trainees, to assess their knowledge and develop the skills required to deal with acute medical emergencies, as described in the specialty training curriculum for palliative medicine. Scenarios included opioid toxicity, acute left ventricular failure, anaphylaxis, hypoglycaemia and massive haemorrhage. The set up and scenarios are described, along with the mechanisms for delivering feedback. This method of training received positive feedback from trainees and facilitators. The advantages, limitations and potential future role for high-fidelity simulation training for medical trainees and the wider multidisciplinary palliative care team are discussed.

  • Education and training
  • Simulation
  • Specialty Training
  • Palliative Medicine

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Footnotes

  • Contributors Simulation training is a rapidly expanding area in Medical Education but there is relatively little published on high fidelity simulation in the field of palliative medicine. This article summarises the current published literature and is the first article to our knowledge to describe the potential role for simulation in UK Palliative Medicine specialty training.

  • Competing interests None declared.

  • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.