Welcome to the Autumn CS MEN NewsletterCS MEN was really thrilled to be recognised with the ASPIRE Award for

Excellence in Simulation from the Association for Medical Education (AMEE). 

We are the first in the UK to have received this award for simulation and also

the only network in the world to receive an Aspire Award.  This gives

recognition to all the hard work and quality education that occurs under the CS

MEN umbrella with the Mobile Skills Unit (MSU) and our partner organisations

SCSCHF and BASICS Scotland.

Back in the office the main focus for the core team over the last few weeks has

been the commissioning and launch of the new MSU.  There are lots of pictures

of the build, launch and first couple of visits in this newsletter.  Also in this

newsletter is an interview with Vanessa Kay, the Co-Director of the Dundee

Institute of Healthcare Simulation (DIHS), a partner organisation developing

surgical skills training for use on the MSU.

Scroll down for the following articles:

1. Aspire Award

2. MSU Launch

3. From Build to Barra

4. AHP Roadshow

5. Interview with Vanessa Kay

6. Scottish Mastery Conference

7. TURAS Learn and Resources Update

8. Upcoming Conferences

We are celebrating an international prize!The CS MEN team has been recognised for their work to enhance clinical skills

practice by being awarded the prestigious international ASPIRE award for

simulation training from the International Association for Medical

Education (AMEE)

 The 2018 Award for Excellence in Simulation was granted for the “exemplary

simulation” education being carried out by CS MEN. Over the last 10 years, CS

MEN through its MSU, BASICS Scotland and the SCSCHF has delivered training

to over 12,000 practitioners, in urban and remote and rural areas, who

otherwise would not have access to high quality simulation education.  A

blended approach using on line and tele-education helps to enhance and

customise learning for busy practitioners.

Click here for full report and interview with Caroline Lamb (Chief Executive of

NES).

Launch of the new Mobile Skills UnitCabinet Secretary, Jeane Freeman OBE MSP unveiled her first plaque as

Minister for Health and Sport as she opened the new MSU, accompanied by

David Garbutt, NES Chair and Caroline Lamb, NES CEO as well as the Chair

and CEO of NHS Forth Valley Alex Liston and Cathie McCowan respectively. 

Click here for full report.

From Build to Barra and Beyond... 

The design of the new MSU evolved through discussions with existing hosts to

find out what worked well on the old MSU and what could be improved. 

Discussions were wide ranging and the main new features include a

larger classroom and control room, an on-board generator, solar panels, quieter

heating, whiteboard cupboards, WiFi, separate area for debrief with computer

and wireless audio headsets.

Please click here for pictures showing the keys stages in the build of the MSU.

AHP RoadshowThe NES Allied Health Professions (AHPs) Practice Education team has been

working alongside CS MEN and Glasgow Caledonian University to develop and

deliver training for AHPs that are involved in supporting others in the

development and maintenance of clinical skills in the practice setting.

 

There was a recognition that less than 1% of participants on the MSU were

AHPs in 2016-2017 and the NES AHP team and CS MEN are working together

to address this.

 

An introductory e-learning module was developed for all staff and is currently

live on TURAS Learn. 

 

A workshop was developed to introduce AHPs to scenario

development, simulation, debrief, practical skills for embedding this in

workplace education and the resources within the MSU.

 

The feedback from the participants was positive with increased awareness and

confidence in using simulation, debrief and the equipment on the MSU.

 

The next phase of the roll out, again supported by CS MEN is a development

workshop for all AHP Practice Education Leads and a national AHP group

developing scenarios and resources for AHPs in clinical skills education.

 Interview with Vanessa Kay (Co-Director, DIHS)What led you to where you are now? I trained as a doctor at the University of Dundee and found the practical side of

things and acute emergencies the most satisfying and went on to train as an

obstetrics and gynaecology surgeon. 

What posts do you juggle and how do you do it?I work as a consultant, a surgeon, a teacher and a researcher.  All varied posts

but with the same aim – providing the best possible patient care in an ever-

changing world with new technologies evolving all the time.  I enjoy having so

many different roles.  I have to be persistent and persuasive to ensure the best

outcome and it is a difficult balancing act at times. 

What does your day to day job entail? Every day is a surprise which I relish.  I might be undertaking an emergency

operation one day, training the next and writing a business case the next.

What is your biggest frustration? 

Can I put in more than one?!  Meetings with no direction.  Not being able to

complete what I started.  Seeing inefficiencies that affect patient care.  Lack of

accountability in management which in turn has a direct impact on patients.

What do you enjoy most?Operating and teaching.  Using my practical skills to help someone and seeing

a student learn a technique and move up a level.

Would you recommend your job to your children?As it happens they have taken different routes but yes I would recommend what

I do to others as long as they have an interest in the first place.  It is challenging

but very rewarding.

How do you see simulation changing in the next 5, 10 and 50 years?Simulation has been getting more realistic throughout my career and I believe

this will continue.  More investment in simulation equipment and mandatory

training throughout careers will be required.  I believe more robotics training will

be undertaken in the future and it will be mutually beneficial to collaborate more

closely with industry. 

If you were put in charge of the NHS what is the first thing you would do?Ensure management was directly accountable for their actions or lack of

action.  Simplify the management structure.  Ensure that the NHS got the most

out of the private sector.

When you are not working how do you relax?Sea kayaking, keeping fit, triathlons and the University Choir. 

Favourite meal?Curry – the hotter, spicier and more garlicky the better.  I enjoy both the cooking

and eating stages.

Click here to find out more about the minor surgical skills courses available to

run on the MSU.

Scottish Mastery Learning Conference Report The 5th Scottish Mastery Learning Conference in Larbert was scheduled a little

earlier than planned to enable a group of delegates from Chicago, including Jeff

Barsuk to present. Unfortunately, Prof Barsuk had to cancel his appearance at

short notice due to ill health, but in his place, we were treated to presentations

and workshops from Professor Eric Hungness, Professor of Upper GI &

Bariatric Surgery and Medical Education and Prof David Salzman, Associate

Professor of Emergency Medicine and Medical Education. Prof Hungness and

Prof Salzman are members of the same team from Feinberg Medical School in

Northwestern University, and the team now has a huge amount of experience in

using simulation-based mastery learning for practical procedures.

Click here for the full report.

 TURAS Learn and Resources UpdateCS MEN now has a presence on TURAS Learn with links to online resources,

mastery learning, and the Improving Surgical Training (IST) pilot programme. 

Link to CS MEN pages on TURAS Learn.

 The Ear Care: Assessment and Irrigation is now live and hosted on TURAS

Learn.  From April 2019 all resources will have moved from LearnPro to TURAS

Learn

 We are also working on producing a PICC Line video resource to accompany

the Pre-Course Material which can be accessed here.

Upcoming Conferences

AS PiH 13 - 15 November 2018

Southport Convention Centre

SMEC9 - 10 May 2019

Edinburgh Conference Centre

International Clinical Skills Conference19 - 22 May 2019

Prato, Tuscany

SESAM12 - 14 June 2019

Glasgow