Safe Interfacility Transport of Pediatric Patients: Medical Control Training, an Interdisciplinary Approach.

INTRODUCTION: Critically ill children who require transfer to tertiary care centers often require transport by specialized transport teams (TT). These interfacility transports require a medical control physician (MCP). Traditionally this role is assigned to fellows who are taught "on-the-job", but achieving competency in communication for those trained this way may not be optimal. We sought to close this curriculum gap by developing a MCP training program immersing emergency medicine (EM) and critical care (CC) fellows together with TT members to manage a simulated patient.

METHODS: Pilot curriculum from 2014-2016 involving 1st year fellows. A case is presented initially with a referral call. By phone the fellow is to communicate with and guide the TT, who is in a separate room managing the "sick" patient using high-fidelity simulation. Each MCP and TT communication is evaluated by faculty and peers. An immediate debriefing session provided formative feedback.

RESULTS: 11 fellows participated and 10 completed a post-simulation survey (91%). The fellows and TT members rated the curriculum as "highly important" and positively viewed the interprofessional collaboration. Respondents were neutral when asked if communication skills improved.

CONCLUSION: The MCP training curriculum was viewed favorably and participants reported that this formalized training is needed.