Embracing the “New Normal”: Introduction to E-simulation Courses

HeartCode Courses

It is not hidden to one’s knowledge how the Covid-19 pandemic has hugely affected our daily lives. While it is too premature to see how and when this crisis will surely end, we inevitably know that our future will not be the same again. Because of this, we experience an extensive impact on how healthcare professionals apply interventions to patients who are victim of this deadly virus especially in terms of applying resuscitation efforts such as CPR. This dilemma has switched the way we see the world of healthcare.

Nurses, doctors and other healthcare professionals should be fully equipped with the appropriate skills of saving lives. Attending frequent resuscitation courses are essential to maintain the skills and knowledge in dealing with emergency cases. How will this crisis affect the offering of resuscitation courses in the future?

On March 10, 2020, the American Heart Association has issued guidelines on how a training center should conduct the training for the Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and other resuscitation courses they offer. Since these classes require skills part to pass the course, the memo tackled steps to do to minimize contact and transmission of covid-19.  Some of the recommendations are hand and manikin disinfection, the proper distancing of each manikin during skills demonstration, each student must be provided with their own pocket mask, wearing of gloves in using bag-valve-mask device and many more. Although international training centers here in Metro Manila are still not allowed to conduct face-to-face classes per government advise, this has opened the offering of HEARTCODE courses which will allow the student to take the online part (part 1) of the training at their own pace but will still have to complete the hands-on skills session with an AHA instructor (part 2).

Heartcode courses are basically blended-learning programs which have the following advantages. First, every course includes lifelike simulations (e-sim) that allow students to treat the subjects real time and receive instant feedback. Second, the course prepares the student to handle real life scenarios by developing their critical thinking skills as they target the objectives of the course. Third, since this is learned in an online platform, the programs are flexible and will allow you to finish the course at your own rhythm providing more control of your time and saving logistics. Fourth, this will limit your face-to-face time spent to a training center where you will have your demonstrations and testing so decreasing the chances of contracting covid-19. Lastly, you will be able to choose your own time and location for your scheduled part 2 of the course having more access to a more private training experience.  

This is how your training dashboard will look like.

Steps and additional information before starting the course

This is what you will see before starting the e-simulation.

On the downside, you need to have a suitable device that supports the running of the learning management system and a stable internet connection for you to do the course. Also, you still need to go and have the classroom part with an AHA instructor for your skills part since this is not a pure online course. Furthermore, the raw price of the materials used are slightly more expensive than the usual classroom-based learning so you have to scout for training centers that will offer cheaper fees. Remember, AHA courses are standardized so regardless where you take them the targeted objectives and delivery will still be the same.

The traditional classroom training we are used to will still be available after the lockdown observing the guidelines issued by AHA during this pandemic and choosing what kind of training delivery will still be up to you. I hope this article helped you in your decisions.