An inexpensive, easily constructed, reusable task trainer for simulating ultrasound-guided pericardiocentesis.

Background: Pericardiocentesis is a low-frequency, high-risk procedure integral to the practice of emergency medicine. Ultrasound-guided pericardiocentesis is the preferred technique for providing this critical intervention. Traditionally, emergency physicians learned pericardiocentesis in real time, at the bedside, on critically ill patients.

Measures of stress and learning seem to be equally affected among all roles in a simulation scenario.

Introduction: Simulation scenarios provide a realistic, stressful environment in which participants can gain new clinical knowledge. It is unclear whether the role a participant plays in a scenario affects these goals. We measured heart rate, self-perceived stress and learning value, and objective written test results of participants in two simulation scenarios.

Hybrid simulation combining a high fidelity scenario with a pelvic ultrasound task trainer enhances the training and evaluation of endovaginal ultrasound skills.

Objectives: In this study, an endovaginal ultrasound (US) task trainer was combined with a high-fidelity US mannequin to create a hybrid simulation model. In a scenario depicting a patient with ectopic pregnancy and hemorrhagic shock, this model was compared with a standard high-fidelity simulation during training sessions with emergency medicine (EM) residents. The authors hypothesized that use of the hybrid model would increase both the residents' self-reported educational experience and the faculty's self-reported ability to evaluate the residents' skills.

High fidelity simulation can discriminate between novice and experienced residents when assessing competency in patient care.

Background: High fidelity (HF) simulators have become more common in residency training programs.

Aims: We hypothesized that high fidelity (HF) simulation-based assessment of patient care competency could differentiate novice from experienced residents.

Methods: Prospective study of 44 emergency medicine residents.

Gender and the council of emergency medicine residency directors standardized letter of recommendation.

Objectives: Until 2002, the Council of Emergency Medicine Residency Directors standardized letter of recommendation (SLOR) prompted authors to predict how an applicant would rank on their match list. A ranking of guaranteed match (GM) was identified as the least common superlative response on the SLOR. That knowledge allowed precise identification of the best SLORs.