{"id":8175,"date":"2024-07-17T18:30:00","date_gmt":"2024-07-17T18:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=8175"},"modified":"2024-07-17T18:30:00","modified_gmt":"2024-07-17T18:30:00","slug":"defibrillation-simulator-provides-life-support-training","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=8175","title":{"rendered":"Defibrillation simulator provides life support training"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"tni-source-date\"><strong>Originally published:<\/strong> 2024-07-17T18:30:00+00:00. Historical source article: benefits, rules, amounts and deadlines may have changed. Check the official source for current information.<\/p>\n<p>When a patient suffers a cardiac arrest or a life-threatening arrythmia, advanced cardiovascular life support (ACLS) is used to respond to these emergencies. One component of ACLS is delivering electricity to restart the heart or convert to a normal heart rhythm. The device that delivers the electricity is called a defibrillator, a complex medical device that must be used quickly and effectively to improve the patient\u2019s outcome.<\/p>\n<p>In a situation where a defibrillator is needed, every second counts. While providers are expected to complete the education required to maintain their ACLS certification, there are limited educational options for providers to learn how to use and maintain their knowledge on how to use a defibrillator.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Finding resources to innovate<\/h2>\n<p>Dr. Michael Kazior is in anesthesiology and critical care medicine based out of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.va.gov\/richmond-health-care\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Central Virginia VA Health Care System<\/a> (CVHCS). When he recognized the lack of defibrillator training opportunities for anesthesiologists and other ACLS providers, both within VA and at external hospital systems, he set out to create an online defibrillator education module that would not only help providers learn how to use the device but maintain that knowledge.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWithout repeated practice, many people aren\u2019t confident using defibrillators because the training options are limited,\u201d Kazior shared.<\/p>\n<p>Kazior approached Kathryn Beckner, who was then an innovation specialist and is now the director of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.innovation.va.gov\/ecosystem\/views\/national-centers\/nci2i.html\" rel=\"noopener\">IDEAS Center for Innovation<\/a>. The IDEAS Center team was able to help Kazior develop his prototype, which he then accelerated through the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.innovation.va.gov\/ecosystem\/views\/innovators-network\/spark-seed-spread.html\" rel=\"noopener\">VHA Innovators Network Spark-Seed-Spread<\/a> program. Kazior completed the first prototype in October 2023.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A tool for clinician education<\/h2>\n<p>The defibrillator simulation is an online educational tool that provides an accessible method of training and re-education on how to use defibrillators. This simulation was developed to teach providers how to use the three main functions of a defibrillator (cardioversion, defibrillation and pacing) and correctly place defibrillator pads.<\/p>\n<p>The online application evaluates a user\u2019s baseline knowledge of defibrillator use, utilizes interactive guided instruction and provides post-evaluation where users can test their knowledge.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI want this tool to inspire comfort and confidence, ultimately increasing the quality of care we can provide. The quicker we as providers can use this device, the better it is for our Veterans,\u201d Kazior said.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Developing the defibrillator simulator<\/h2>\n<p>As a part of the design process, Kazior worked with his colleagues to solicit feedback on a paper prototype which has been converted to an online interactive prototype that he hopes to deploy in the coming months.<\/p>\n<p>With support from the IDEAS Center, Kazior was able to collaborate with the <a href=\"https:\/\/simulation.health.ufl.edu\/\" rel=\"noopener\">University of Florida\u2019s Center for Safety, Simulation &amp; Advanced Learning Technologies<\/a>, which created the simulation based on specifications he provided.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">VA as a learning health system leader<\/h2>\n<p>Recognizing the tremendous educational benefits the defibrillator simulator could offer providers beyond VA, Kazior is working to transition ownership of the prototype to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.apsf.org\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation (APSF)<\/a>. With Kazior as course director providing clinical guidance and supervision of the expansion, APSF will refine and expand on the content as one of their core <a href=\"https:\/\/www.apsf.org\/apsf-technology-education-initiative\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Technology Education Initiative<\/a> educational offerings starting in 2025. Soon, the tool will be available to anyone interested in the course.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDr. Kazior\u2019s project is a perfect example of the importance and impact of solving a frontline problem. While this project initially addressed an education gap identified within our medical center, it has demonstrated an ability to address a larger need. Collaborating with APSF will allow for this education to provide benefit to VA and beyond,\u201d said Beckner.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m passionate about education research and providing open access to this training is one of my primary goals. Through this collaboration, we\u2019re going to be able to provide that access and fill an unmet need in medical device education,\u201d Kazior added.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Learn more<\/h2>\n<p>The IDEAS Center for Innovation is one of VHA Innovation Ecosystem\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.innovation.va.gov\/ecosystem\/views\/national-centers\/nci2i.html\" rel=\"noopener\">National Centers for Innovation to Impact (NCi2I)<\/a>. The centers are designed to foster collaboration between partners and select VA medical centers to address VA\u2019s most pressing health care challenges.<\/p>\n<p>Want to learn more about innovation at VA? Visit our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.innovation.va.gov\/ecosystem\/views\/home.html\" rel=\"noopener\">website<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/marketplace.va.gov\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Diffusion Marketplace<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/public.govdelivery.com\/accounts\/USVHA\/subscriber\/new?topic_id=USVHA_1468\" rel=\"noopener\">subscribe to our weekly newsletter<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/pathfinder.va.gov\/\" rel=\"noopener\">explore VA Pathfinder<\/a> to learn more about our opportunities.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p class=\"tni-attribution\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/news.va.gov\/132950\/defibrillation-simulator-life-support-training\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs<\/a>. Its Veterans is an independent publication and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. government.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>VA Innovator Dr. Michael Kazior enhances defibrillator training by offering interactive, accessible education.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":54,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8175","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-u-s-veterans-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Defibrillation simulator provides life support training - Its Veterans<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"VA Innovator Dr. Michael Kazior enhances defibrillator training by offering interactive, accessible education.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/itsveterans.com\/?p=8175\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Defibrillation simulator provides life support training - 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