Published by: Maya Linson on 5/19/2011 11:38:16 AM
HHS recently unveiled a new “computer-based, interactive learning tool for clinicians, health professional students, and patient advocates.” Partnering to Heal is described as “a simulation where you play as four healthcare professionals and a family member, make decisions for them, and see how those decisions play out. This interactive simulation was created to encourage different audiences to understand the goal of infection prevention and to make the personal commitment to prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections (HAIs).”
I was both intrigued and skeptical that this simulation would really be that useful, but even dabbling in it for a half an hour has convinced me that every hospital should enable the tool for its staff to use during breaks or in between patients.
The narrative sets the stage (as in this 30 second clip) - a discussion taking place in a hospital boardroom about a patient with complications. The first part is 6 and a half minutes – seemed a little long, but really did a phenomenal job of objectively describing where everything went wrong. The details help you understand where the choices will reveal themselves and how you can change the outcome. This section ends with the boardmember speaking directly to me explaining the “choose your own adventure,” as it were.
Essentially, we can play each role that was highlighted in the opening and see what happens when we learn from the original scenario. I started by playing the family caregiver. I get about a minute of background and scene setting. A few more minutes of background, showing how the situation escalates. This part also includes the explanation that a health care professional gives and then it ends with a question – How should you respond? You are given two choices – take action now or do it later.
The answer seems obvious, but you can seemingly play the game two ways. Answer the way you think a family caregiver would in reality or answer the way someone should. I am going to test the less-safe scenario. This path takes me to a longer explanation of why taking the recommended action, in this case washing hands, is critical. There are also links to more information about HAIs and hand washing.
I go back and follow the other path – take action now. Surprise! I end up in the same place – information on hand washing and HAIs. Here is where the skepticism started rising … do all of these paths lead to the same place?
Instead of moving on, I go back to the start and select to play the role of the Infection Preventionist. I get a similar set up – few minutes of background and scene setting. Then my first question – what choice to I make? Here, I get a tailored answer for each path – one telling me I could have made a better choice, one telling me I did ok but could have done more, and one telling me I made the right choice. All include more information on the safest option and why it would indeed be safest.
While playing this educational game, I come across helpful links, sound advice and a safe way to test the waters. Again, I highly recommend this learning tool and I applaud HHS for investing in this robust, professional and even interesting choose-your-own safety adventure.
HHS release: http://www.hhs.gov/ash/initiatives/hai/training/
Access the full tool here: http://www.hhs.gov/ash/initiatives/hai/training/partneringtoheal.html