review, we simulated what is arguably the
most vital part of resolving an MH crisis:
administering dantrolene. I obtained expired
vials of dantrolene from our pharmacy and
asked staff to volunteer for a reconstituting
race. A few staff members stepped up and
competed to see who could correctly mix the
dantrolene the fastest, and we awarded a
small prize to the winner.
Simulation training is the perfect way to
highlight the difference between understand-
ing the steps you're supposed to take during
an emergency and physically doing them. The
dantrolene-mixing process was more challeng-
ing than any of the volunteers expected, and
they were only mixing a fraction of the dantro-
lene they'd need during a real MH crisis. After
they finished the simulation, I said, "If you thought
that was tough, you'd need the amount you mixed
times 20 during a real emergency." That really drove
home the importance of using simulation training.
We haven't experienced an MH event since over-
hauling our training program, but we recently dis-
covered during a routine pre-op
assessment that a patient had risk
factors for MH. I had the opportu-
nity to alert the surgical team,
review how they should respond
to a crisis and roll the MH cart to
just outside the OR door.
Fortunately, the patient got
through surgery without incident,
but watching the way our staff
conducted themselves as soon as
they were alerted to the situation
told me everything I needed to
know about how they would han-
dle a real-life emergency. The
effort we put into making our MH
training an engaging and hands-
on experience ensures every
member of our surgical staff is
fully prepared to respond to a cri-
sis correctly and confidently.
OSM
7 0 • O U T P A T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 0
RAC Medical Solutions
www.racmedicalsolutions.com
Customer Service: (855) 798-6685 (6AM – 9PM CST)
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Ms. Hampton
(jhampton@holy
redeemer.com) is the OR
nurse manager at Holy
Redeemer Hospital in
Meadowbrook, Pa.
ROLE WITH IT The MH cart at Holy Redeemer Hospital includes detailed and easily accessible
response role cards that spell out staff responsibilities.
Linda
Beck
