# Presentation: 120355

## Implementing Disaster Medicine Training in a Medical School Curriculum

**UVAMRC**
**University of Virginia**
**School of Medicine**
**Charlottesville, VA**

- From demonstration project
- to curricular integration

**Notes:**
Joe:  For the final presentation, I think that it would be good to separate each module slide into one slide with the objective and the other with the goals for competency so that we can fit room for a picture on each slide.  Any thoughts?

## Participants

**Matt Alexander, BS**
**Chief of Operations**
**Joseph Baltz, BSE**
**Director of Administration**
**Josh Durham, BS ***(MD in 3 weeks)*
**Deputy Chief of Operations**
**Edward Kantor, MD**
**Faculty Director/Chief**

## UVAMRC-Background

- One of handful of MRCs run out of a university
- Only MRC with a student leadership model
- Based in the School of Medicine
- Partnered with the
- School of Nursing, Local Health Department, Emergency Medicine, Toxicology, Red Cross, Regional EOC, University Hospital, Community Mental Health Center

## Presentation Goals

- Describe the three year experience with core disaster skills training in medical education
- Discuss the initial program and the move toward curricular integration
- Examine program evaluation and plans for improvement
- Review benefits of collaboration and interdisciplinary core competencies

## Goals of Curricular Integration

- Teach disaster response skills to students
- Introduce students to the roles and players involved in disaster response, including roles for medical students
- Generate interest in public health and disaster planning & response as possible careers
- Train next generation of physicians in basic disaster medical practice
- Increase recruitment of students in the UVAMRC

## Initial Disaster Response Curriculum

- Organized by UVA Health System Emergency Planning Director
- Lecture format only
- One day format
- Varying topics in emergency prep

## Disaster Response Curriculum--2004

- Designed by Dr. Mark Kirk
- Single day of training
- Overview lecture of disaster response and introductory case
- Small group breakout sessions
- Wrap up session with Q&A panel
- Held very late in 3rd year of training
- Was optional (only 60 medical students in attendance)

## Modules for Disaster Medicine

- Overview of Disaster and Bioterrorism
- Risk Communications and Mental Wellness
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- START Triage
- Extrication and Patient Transportation
- Recognizing Toxic Syndromes
- Mass Decontamination
- Mass Immunization and Infectious Disease

## Risk Communication Skills

_**Objective**_**:** Provide students with concepts and practical experience with message management and crisis communication in disasters and public health emergencies
_**Goals for basic student competence**_:
- Understand individual role in using risk communication skills in a public health emergency
- Know the steps in preparing and delivering a message and consequences of your message

## Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

_**Objective**_: Hands-on experience to gain entry-level confidence in operating in PPE ensembles in various settings
_**Goals for student competence**_**:**
- Develop confidence in their level of protection and know what protection they may need
- Understand the makeup of their PPE and emergency procedures for failure
- Understand proper donning and doffing of PPE/Respiratory Protection

## START Triage 

_**Objective**_**:**  Learn principles of patient sorting and individual skills (for their level of training) that each student can apply to a community disaster response
_**Goals for student competence**_**:**
- Understand the concept and basic structure of the START triage system (meaning of colors, etc.)
- Understand Jump START triage for pediatric patients
- Demonstrate proficiency in skills that may be useful in a public health emergency

## Extrication and Patient Transportation

_**Objective**_**:**  Learn safe and effective ways to remove patients from dangerous environments and transport to safety
_**Goals for student competence**_**:**
- Understand individual role in assisting with removal and transport of injured patients
- Know proper method of applying a backboard, C-collar and splints
- Learn how to safely lift and carry a stretcher

## Recognizing Toxic Syndromes

_**Objective**_**:** To recognize chemical toxic syndromes and take appropriate actions
- Brief presentation on toxic syndrome recognition followed by interactive scenarios to test knowledge gained from lecture and from current level of training
_**Goals for student competence**_**:**
- Know the common chemical toxic syndromes, characteristics and examples
- Know immediate actions to take after recognizing each syndrome

## Mass Decontamination

_**Objective**_**:** To introduce students to the theory and practice of large scale decontamination
- Brief presentation on how decon is run and exercises in decontamination of a mannequin given different scenarios
_**Goals for student competence**_**:**
- Understand both individual roles in decon
- Understand how theory and strategy of mass decontamination

## Mass Immunization and Infectious Disease Issues

_**Objective**_**:** Participants will learn how to distribute medications and administer injections to large numbers of people
_**Goals for student competence**_**:**
- Demonstrate ability to give an immunization (including Small Pox)
- Demonstrate methods of self protection using airborne, contact, droplet and standard precautions
- Understand the general principles of mass prophylaxis and mass immunization

## Feedback from Medical Students	

- “Excellent...
- “... this is information we are unlikely to get anywhere else as students.”
- “Great hands on experience.”
- “...Make it possible to see all [sessions] instead of 3 of the 6.”
- Quantitative Post-experience Survey Data (2005)
- 	Overall value to you (each module)–
- 1=Poor             5=Excellent
- Overall Rating:  4.28 (range 3.68 – 4.73)

## Disaster Response Curriculum--2005

- Sessions refined with more focus placed on Extrication, Triage, and Mass Immunization
- UVAMRC Leadership assisted in running modules
- Was still held late in 3rd year of training
- Students were only allowed to attend 4 of 6 small group modules
- Q&A session panel included physicians involved in real disaster response (OK City Bombing)
- Again was optional, but 100 students were in attendance

## Disaster Response Curriculum--2006

- Small group modules arranged so that students may attend 5 of 7
- UVAMRC membership assisted in modules
- All students attended Triage, Extrication, and Mass Immunizations Modules
- Q&A session panel included physicians involved in real disaster response (Hurricane Katrina)
- Held earlier in 3rd year of training
- Now mandatory (150 students in attendance)

## Disaster Response Curriculum--2006 cont’d.

- Personal Protective Equipment Module changed to Personal Protection Actions
- Focus includes initial PPE content with addition of methods of self protection using airborne, contact, droplet, and standard precautions
- Additional content taken from Mass Immunization Module for better use of time.

## Benefits of Curricular Integration for UVAMRC

- Provides medical students with practical skills to help in disaster response
- Increases pool of trained volunteers for community response (now and after graduation)
- Provides training opportunities that translate to the rest of the MRC
- Pre-training allows for easier integration and less need for ‘just-in-time training’

## Clinical Connections as UVAMRC Member Training

- Clinical Connections modules provided to UVAMRC members March 2006
- Introduction to Disaster and Risk Communication (entire group)
- 4 small group modules
- Recognizing Toxic Syndromes
- Extrication/Transport
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- START Triage
- 20 members participated
- Very Positive feedback

## Expansion of Curricular Integration

- Initiate disaster training earlier - 1st and 2nd year
- Design level-specific training sessions for each medical student year (1-4) with expanded focus as students progress
- Measure acquisition of competency with appropriate assessment and evaluation
- Work to adapt competencies and curricula to nursing, GME and CME needs
- Align training with evolving national standards
-     and provide certificate of completion

## Core Competencies in Medical Education

- Patient Care
- Medical Knowledge
- Interpersonal & Communication Skills

- Professionalism
- Systems-Based Practice
- Practice-Based Learning & Improvement

*To achieve competency, students must acquire*
*a minimum level of skill, knowledge, and attitude.*

## Partnerships: Academic Medicine and Public Health

- The climate is right for working together as the Disaster Response infrastructure is transforming at the same time Medical Education is changing.
- HHS through the CDC has initiated cooperative agreements with Academia for partnerships through a number of member groups (AAMC, ATPM and ASPH).
- This is  encouraging, as currently there is little incentive for cooperation, even between agencies from within the response community itself.

## Concept of Interdisciplinary Competencies

- The conventional response system is expected to need many extra health care personnel.
- Systems-based practice is a requirement in all medical training areas.
- Planning, working and training in advance will improve outcomes in events.
- Teaching the same material and using the same standards in each phase of medical training AND in the response community, increases efficiency and reduces cost.

## Discussion

- What minimum knowledge, skills and attitudes do YOU feel are necessary for medical and health professions students?
- What successes have YOU had working with your local medical school/health system?
- Do you feel this is an effective way to train volunteers and professionals?
- Other Questions, Comments, Ideas?

## More info:

**UVAMRC**
_**Web: **_**    **_**www.uvamrc.org**_
_**Email:**_**   **_**uvamrc@virginia.edu**_

## Acknowledgements

- Mark Kirk, MD
- 	Deputy Chief/Faculty Advisor, UVAMRC
- 	Dept. of Emergency Medicine/Toxicology
- 	UVA School of Medicine • Charlottesville, VA
- 	Dr. Kirk is the course director for the 3rd year clinical connections program in disaster skills.