Every week the VGH Critical Care Outreach Team (CCOT) answers more than 100 calls for bedside visits and consultations. In June, members of the team volunteered to answer calls for a few extra special patients.

The patients were dummies. Simulation dummies, that is.

“It was all part of CCOT’s first Simulation Education Day,” explains Lara Gurney, critical care outreach coordinator. “To keep current and prepared, CCOT members challenged themselves to answer a variety of mock calls to the bedside of a simulation mannequin.”

At the Centre of Excellence for Simulation Education and Innovation (CESEI), CCOT members put their expertise to the test. They applied their critical care skills, theory and knowledge in a virtual environment using simulators and innovative teaching software.

“Our team consists of very passionate, enthusiastic individuals. It was amazing to have such a fantastic turn out for the day,” says Lara.

CCOT in demand

Left to right: Breanna Curley, ICU RN, and Heather Johnson, RT, as they learn more about treating potential anaphylaxis on the ward from their Emergency Department colleagues.

CCOT brings the expertise of the intensive care unit to the wards. Nursing and physician teams throughout the hospital can dial 8000 round the clock for a bedside visit and consultation from the team when patients show signs of deterioration.

Thirty-five RNs, 45 RTs and 14 critical care physicians work on CCOT and at any given time the team has one person in each role covering VGH. Over the course of a year, the team makes more than 5,700 patient visits throughout VGH.

“We receive pages for a variety of reasons, with 65 per cent made by nurses who report feeling worried about a patient in their care,” says Lara.

While CCOT doesn’t take over a patient’s care, the team does perform “detective work” to answer questions like: How critical is the patient? What’s needed to stop and reverse deterioration? The team supports ward staff to provide the best care and prevent deaths. When necessary, CCOT collaborates with the patient’s “home team” to transfer a patient to a higher level of monitoring.

Teamwork critical

Simmie Kalan, ICU RN, talks pulmonary embolisms. The Pulmonary Embolism Response Team is a new CCOT initiative at VGH.

“Team-building activities like the Simulation Education Day support clinical excellence and ensure we continue providing the best care to patients while supporting our colleagues within the hospital,” says Lara.

The day’s success, she adds, is also due in no small part to Drs. Gord Finlayson, David Sweet and Wesley Jang who facilitated three simulation stations.

“They were instrumental in sharing their knowledge and experience with the team, making the day a fun and fulfilling experience.”

Thank you …

…to everyone who generously shared their expertise and time to make the CCOT Simulation Education Day a resounding success.

• Dr. Sarhar Faraham
• Dr. Gord Finlayson
• Jaime Gallaher
• Mary Liz Garba
• Dr. Wesley Jang
• Simmie Kalan
• Maddy Laberge
• Allana Leblanc
• Dr. David Sweet

And a very special thanks to Marc Chin, RT, who took more than 200 photos to document the day.

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