Emergency Medicine - Lab Exercise

**LAB EXERCISE TITLE & INFORMATION**

**Title:** Emergency Medicine Skills Lab: Simulated Trauma Assessment and Management

**Duration:** 2.5 hours

**Group Size:** 4-6 students

**Difficulty Level:** Moderate to Challenging

This lab exercise is designed to simulate a trauma assessment and management scenario, where students will practice their skills in a simulated environment. The goal of this lab is to develop critical thinking, communication, and decision-making skills in an emergency medicine setting.

**LEARNING OBJECTIVES**

1. Perform a thorough trauma assessment using the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) criteria.
2. Identify and manage common traumatic injuries (e.g., bleeding, fractures, spinal cord injuries).
3. Administer basic life support interventions (e.g., CPR, oxygen therapy).
4. Use emergency medical equipment (e.g., defibrillator, IV pump).
5. Communicate effectively with team members and other healthcare professionals.
6. Develop a treatment plan for a simulated patient with multiple traumatic injuries.
7. Demonstrate proper use of safety equipment (e.g., gloves, face shield).
8. Analyze data from the trauma assessment to inform treatment decisions.

**BACKGROUND & THEORY**

Trauma care is a critical component of emergency medicine, and accurate assessment and management of traumatic injuries are essential for patient survival and outcomes. The ATLS criteria provide a framework for evaluating patients with traumatic injuries, and this lab exercise will focus on applying these principles in a simulated setting.

The expected outcome of this lab exercise is that students will develop the skills and knowledge necessary to perform a thorough trauma assessment, identify and manage common traumatic injuries, and communicate effectively with team members. By the end of the lab, students will be able to apply their knowledge in a practical setting and make informed treatment decisions.

**MATERIALS & EQUIPMENT**

* Trauma patient simulator (or human actor)
* ATLS assessment form
* Trauma evaluation checklist
* Emergency medical equipment (e.g., defibrillator, IV pump)
* Safety equipment (e.g., gloves, face shield)
* Bleeding control agents (e.g., tourniquet, hemostatic agents)
* Fracture splinting materials (e.g., ACE wrap, splint box)
* Spinal immobilization equipment (e.g., backboard, cervical collar)

**PROCEDURE / PROTOCOL**

1. **Introduction and Briefing** (5 minutes)
* Review the ATLS criteria and trauma assessment protocol.
* Introduce the patient simulator (or human actor) and provide context for the scenario.
2. **Trauma Assessment** (20 minutes)
* Perform a thorough trauma assessment using the ATLS criteria.
* Record data on the trauma assessment form.
3. **Injury Management** (30 minutes)
* Identify and manage common traumatic injuries (e.g., bleeding, fractures, spinal cord injuries).
* Administer basic life support interventions (e.g., CPR, oxygen therapy).
4. **Emergency Medical Equipment Use** (10 minutes)
* Demonstrate proper use of emergency medical equipment (e.g., defibrillator, IV pump).
5. **Communication and Teamwork** (15 minutes)
* Communicate effectively with team members and other healthcare professionals.
6. **Treatment Plan Development** (20 minutes)
* Develop a treatment plan for the simulated patient with multiple traumatic injuries.
7. **Data Analysis and Results** (10 minutes)
* Analyze data from the trauma assessment to inform treatment decisions.
8. **Debriefing and Review** (15 minutes)
* Review the scenario and discuss key takeaways.

**DATA COLLECTION & ANALYSIS**

* Record data on the trauma assessment form, including:
+ Vital signs (e.g., blood pressure, pulse rate).
+ Physical examination findings (e.g., wound size, depth).
+ Laboratory results (e.g., blood work, imaging studies).
* Analyze data to inform treatment decisions and develop a treatment plan.

**CLINICAL CORRELATIONS**

This lab exercise is clinically relevant because it simulates a real-world trauma assessment and management scenario. Students will apply their knowledge of the ATLS criteria and emergency medical equipment use in a practical setting. The expected outcome is that students will be able to make informed treatment decisions based on data analysis.

Common errors that can occur during this lab include:

* Inadequate trauma assessment.
* Delayed or inadequate bleeding control.
* Insufficient communication with team members.
* Failure to develop an appropriate treatment plan.

**POST-LAB QUESTIONS**

1. What was the patient's primary complaint upon arrival?
2. How did you assess for potential injuries (e.g., neurological, orthopedic)?
3. What were your priorities in terms of injury management?
4. How would you communicate with a team member who is not present during the assessment?
5. What are some common complications associated with traumatic injuries?

**ASSESSMENT CRITERIA**

* Checklist of skills demonstrated:
+ Trauma assessment
+ Injury management
+ Emergency medical equipment use
+ Communication and teamwork
+ Treatment plan development
* Grading rubric:
+ Accuracy and completeness of trauma assessment (20 points)
+ Effectiveness in injury management (30 points)
+ Proper use of emergency medical equipment (10 points)
+ Effective communication and teamwork (20 points)
+ Treatment plan development and implementation (20 points)

**REFERENCES & RESOURCES**

* Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) manual
* Emergency Medical Services (EMS) guidelines
* Trauma care resources from reputable organizations (e.g., American College of Surgeons, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration).