Development of a mobile tele-simulation unit prototype for training of rural and remote emergency health care providers

Abstract

Emergency health care providers in rural and remote areas do not have the same access to training as those in urban areas. This poses a serious challenge to the provision of equitable healthcare delivery. This paper outlines the development of a Mobile Tele-Simulation Unit (MTU) prototype to address the challenges of training in rural and remote settings. The goal of the MTU is to increase opportunities for emergency health care providers to attain training remotely. Mobile tele-simulation is a new approach to remote medical training with many clear benefits however one must understand how to develop such a unit and its effectiveness in teaching procedural skills. In this paper, we describe our multidisciplinary mixed-methods approach to develop the MTU using proven theoretical frameworks. We also discuss the developmental challenges, findings on trainee satisfaction and learning outcomes. Initial results are promising and warrant a formal evaluation stage to complete our study.