Perioperative Emergency Manuals in Clinical Clerkships: Curricula on “Why, How, and When to Use” for Teaching Medical Students

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Emergency manuals are context-relevant sets of cognitive aids or crisis checklists. The goal of this resource is to use engaging videos to illustrate the role of emergency manuals for clinical medical students beginning their surgery or anesthesia operating room-based clerkships. Methods The videos utilize professionally produced pen-and-ink graphic illustrations with voiceover and interactive elements. Using blended learning tools helps to familiarize medical students with emergency manuals and the appropriate use of cognitive aids in a memorable way. We anticipate that this method of instruction is a feasible, effective, and scalable method of appropriately engaging medical students in ongoing patient safety and quality improvement initiatives nationally. Results The Stanford University School of Medicine has integrated these video trainings into its orientation for all core surgical clerkship students since 2013. The sessions have been well received by both leadership and participating medical students. Both course evaluations and self-assessment surveys of student knowledge and attitudes regarding emergency manuals are very promising. Discussion We anticipate that training medical students in the principles and use of emergency manuals will enhance their education regarding management of critical events in the operating room. The recent roll-out of emergency manuals in our institution, along with resident and clinical staff training, makes operating room rotations a particularly resource-rich and applicable setting for medical student education before and after critical events or near misses.

Keywords

• Clinical Clerkship
• Checklist
• Crisis Intervention
• Patient Simulation
• Patient Safety
• Quality Improvement