Global Medical Track had an Airline Medical Emergency simulation in the middle hallways of the SP suite, it was a small fuselage area set up with SP’s and simulation passengers. There were nine track students which were involved in the simulation. There were two different sessions, during which the track students treated airline passengers with emergencies. During the sessions, Dr. Wardle and Dr. Pryor evaluated the students and then debriefed them on their performance. Dr. Mark Wardle, DO, said “What an entertaining and educational event this was! The students were presented with difficult cases shortly after “take-off” in a challenging environment with limited resources. They had to decide what was going on, what they could reasonably do in that situation, and what to recommend to the flight crew. Each group did great and found areas in which to grow. They discovered the importance of staying calm and taking time to think. Challenges ranged from making sure to have the “barf with-bag” ready, locating the needed equipment and dealing with selfie-taking passengers, to starting I.V.’s, attaching AED’s and deciding whether to recommend diverting the plane. Overall, I think this activity has brought the Global Track to new heights!”
Dr. Jan Pryor, DO, MPH, C-NMM/OMM, said, "as a physician, it is not unusual when traveling by air to be asked to respond to an in-flight medical event, particularly during long international flights. As such, RVUCOM’s Global Medicine Track reviews with its students a variety of issues related to providing appropriate and professional care during an in-flight emergency, including the incidence of in-flight emergencies, the most common types of in-flight medical complaints, the contents of emergency medical kits found on commercial aircraft, the elements of in-flight medical decision making, and the legal ramifications of providing in-flight assistance. This information is then consolidated by having the students participate in a mock in-flight emergency using standardized patients who act out a typical in-flight medical complaint to which the students must appropriately respond. Following in the footsteps of our colleagues in Colorado, RVUCOM-SU just completed its first experience with these simulated in-flight emergencies and it was a great success as measured by the amount of learning that occurred and the practical experience that was gained by our students being placed in that situation. The Clinical Assessment and Simulation staff and the other RVU staff who worked hard to make this activity a success are to be congratulated! Significant learning occurred, it was an enjoyable experience, and we’ll continue to provide this valuable learning experience in subsequent years."
