Arizona Simulation Technology & Education Center (ASTEC) collaborated with the Department of Pediatrics and Cardiothoracic Surgery to conduct a simulation of an adult patient transfer from the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) to Radiology for a CT scan. The adult human patient simulator was prepped with silicone tubing, which was connected to an external pump to create an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) circuit. A team of nurses worked with a respiratory therapist and patient care staff in manipulating the ECMO pump, the cannulae, patient monitors and IV poles to transport the patient from the ward to the elevator and into the CT scanner. Potential problems in patient transfer including safety of the cannulae, continuous monitoring of vital signs, and arterial and pulmonary pressures were targeted and assessed. A group of experts accompanied the training and evaluated the team on their performance.
