Medical Emergencies: Evaluation, Response and Keeping Attention on Team Communication and Patient Safety

Please click on any of the above three courses for more specific information.

MEERKATS is a set of educational programs aimed at nursing shift leaders, junior and senior medical staff and HCA’s. It combines the essential elements of patient safety with good practice in communication and recognition and management of acutely unwell patient.

All participants in simulation-based team training courses like the above learn together, reflect together and discuss together in teams similar to the ones that deliver health care on the wards. Simulation courses include senior and junior doctors, nursing shift leaders, medical students and health care assistants working as part of a multi-dynamic team. Learners participate in the simulation exercises in their normal clinical role and work in realistic clinical teams communicating across a ward and two side rooms.

Simulation scenarios and content emphasis are based on audits of calls to the hospital at night teams with specific learning objectives aligned to the Trust’s priorities as  follows:

• Recognising the deteriorating adult, treatment and escalation.

Involving participants from various backgrounds (medical, surgical, A&E,) and observing the interactions within the multidisciplinary team with a focus on TEAM SAFETY & RESILIENCE

• Tuesday 6th October
• Tuesday 27th October
• Tuesday 10th November
• Tuesday 1st December
• Tuesday 15th December
• Tuesday 5th January
• Tuesday 2nd February
• Thursday 18th February
• Thursday 25th March
• Tuesday 6th April
• Monday 17th May

IMT 3 Simulation

Meerkats 3 is a 1-day team-based simulation course for IMT3s, RGNs, AHPS and HCA’s covering:

• Introduction to Teaching and Facilitating (1-hour session supported by a presentation on teaching and facilitating in simulation)
• TEP discussions and Escalation Plan (1-hour workshop with palliative care team)
• Three acute care clinical simulations

On completion of this course, IMTs trainees will have the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills gained to facilitate the learning of junior colleagues in MEERKATS 1 and 2, with the overall experience developing their ability to:

• Manage complex / acutely unwell patients independently
• Practice A to E assessment using simulation-based education
• Contextualize psychological signs with patient history and develop a differential diagnosis
• Order/send appropriate samples/investigations to assist clinical decision making
• Escalate concerns, seek advice and refer to the appropriate specialists
• Deal with ethical and legal issues related to clinical practice
• Communicate effectively and share decision-making while monitoring appropriate situational awareness, professional behaviour and professional judgment
• Develop teaching and facilitating skills
• Act as a clinical teacher and clinical supervisor
• Apply leadership skills in the simulated area

Course Dates 

TBC