Teaching ABC of Lifesaving Skills to become Pranadathas

Objectives
1. To equip all staff members, nurses, students and health care providers (HCPs) with the technique of Basic Life Support (BLS)
2. To start American Heart Association (AHA) accredited Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) training center in MRIMS
3. To implement Code Blue Training
4. To introduce lifesaving skills to undergraduates from 1st year itself

Context
Training in lifesaving techniques is mandatory for HCPs- nursing staff and undergraduates. Junior residents require exposure to ACLS training. In addition to HCPs, laypeople including ayammas, attenders, technicians and drivers etc also need BLS training.

Practice
Inspired by this vision, the Institute developed a specialized central simulation lab featuring mannequins, surgical trainers and an audiovisual system.

1.BLS:
Training all students, nurses, teaching and non-teaching staff in the central simulation lab, across the institute on BLS was an enormous undertaking. It began in 2022. A sense of pride and satisfaction was evident in all participants and trainers. Since then, BLS workshops have established themselves as a regular event.

2.AHA accredited BLS/ACLS:
The institute has been organizing AHA-accredited BLS and ACLS workshops since January 2024, after its AHA-accreditation. A team of AHA-ACLS instructors was created. Training is being given to postgraduates, undergraduates, nursing staff and faculty.

3.Code Blue Training:
Code blue training is on the top of our training list. In the Instructor-led course, participants take part in simulated clinical scenarios and learning stations. It is also provided to nursing professionals and undergraduates.

4.Introduction to lifesaving skills to students and staff:
"Lifesaving skills" workshops were added to the undergraduate schedule. An orientation program for skill labs is offered to first-year students in foundation course. Adult CPR, IV Cannulation Procedure, First Aid, Basic Life Skills are among the courses they take. Interns receive hands-on training in airway management, basic life skills, code blue training, and normal labour.
Postgraduates participate in workshops in ACLS, Neonatal Resuscitation Programs, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, Essentials of Ventilation, Basic Laparoscopic Skills, Suturing and Knotting.
Additionally, there have been many faculty development programs focused on lifesaving techniques.

5.AAFP:
AAFP accredited basic and advanced life support in obstetrics (BLSO and ALSO) have been introduced to postgraduates of obstetrics, interns and nursing staff.

Evidence of Success
After training, each participant is subjected to theoretical and practical evaluation following which they are awarded certificates. In every workshop, pre-test, post-test and feedback forms were gathered. There has been a noticeable change in the way critical care units function.

Problems encountered and Resources required
• Regular updating of clinical skill lab
• Posting the students without affecting regular work
• Recruiting skilled trainers

Teaching ABC of Lifesaving Skills to become ‘Pranadathas’ (Lifesaving skills workshops)

Care, Communicate, Counsel and Connect with patients through Communication skills Workshops

Objectives
1. To sensitize undergraduates about importance of good communication skills in medical practice.
2. To train them with effective and practical communication skills which will enhance their clinical competence and help them manage difficult encounters with patients in future.
3. To lay solid basis for professional conduct and effective teamwork from formative years.
4. To improve interpersonal skills.


Context
If knowledge of medicine, surgical skills and clinical acumen are crafts of medical practice, communication skills are the fine arts!
Communication is a fundamental skill necessary for becoming a good doctor and is associated with improved healthcare outcome, effective diagnosis and management of patients. Good communication builds confidence, improves therapy adherence and overall satisfaction among patients. Effective communication is required in various steps like history taking, patient counselling, explaining treatment options, risks and complications, breaking bad news, etc. Hence, incorporating communication skill training for medical undergraduates is essential.

Practice
This training program is conducted at three levels named communication skills workshops I, II, III.

Communication skills workshop I
This course is intended for first-year MBBS students and is covered in foundation course. Major goal of this workshop is to help them adjust, gain confidence, understand basic principles and concepts of communication. The program includes lectures on introduction to language and communication, components of communication and common communication hurdles faced. It facilitates transition of out- of-state students to local language and helps them in interacting with patients. It also emphasizes on importance of listening skills.
Students are divided into different groups. Each group is assigned a mentor. They are given group activities like story completion, enacting a given situation, small-group teaching and role plays followed by group discussions and short speaking exercises. The session concludes with assessment by mentor. Feedback is taken from students.

Communication skills workshop II
This course is intended for second-year MBBS students. The agenda of workshop is to teach history taking, prescription writing, and handling of viva. The session begins with class on speaking skills. Role- play is used as main method of teaching. History taking exercises are taught to students by using simulated patients. This is followed by session on significance of writing prescriptions in a legible manner with the help of illustration by real life examples.
Students are divided into small groups, and are made to explain prescriptions in the language of patients. Faculty members enact as different types of challenging patients. Last session covers speaking exercises and activities like role-play to enhance viva dealing abilities of students. Feedback is taken from students.

Communication skills workshop III
The final workshop deals with crucial elements of proper communication like empathy, assertiveness, reasoning and rational thinking. It includes lecture on communication etiquettes, followed by role-play based case studies involving different scenarios using these elements. Significance of written communication skills- writing case sheets, discharge summaries, maintenance of case files and drug charts is taught. Use of appropriate body language and modulation are covered in the last session along with basics of PowerPoint presentation.

Evidence of success
Feedback from students attending these workshops consistently demonstrated increased learning. Positive outcomes have been observed from focused group discussions with teachers and students. Role plays by both faculty and students are thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated by students.

Problems encountered
• Absenteeism
• Scheduling the workshops
• Faculty requirement
• Students involvement

Resources required
• Class rooms
• Audio-visual aids
• LCD, Black or white boards
• Time

Care, Communicate, Counsel and Connect with patients through Communication skills Workshops