Principal Investigators: Kelly Fisher, Clinical Assistant Professor , Physician Assistant Studies Program, School of Health & Human Sciences; Ron Contreras, PA-C – Clinical Assistant Professor at the Indiana University Physician Assistant Studies Program; Jill Murphy, MD – Medical Director of the Indiana University Physician Assistant Studies Program, Assistant Clerkship Director of Emergency Medicine, IU School of Medicine, Assistant Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine, IU School of Medicine
Project Title: Disaster 101: Mass Casualty Incident Training for Didactic Year Physician Assistant Students
Funding Level: $4877
Abstract: A commonly agreed upon definition of a mass casualty incident (MCI) is one in which the number patients overwhelm the number of medical providers and their resources. MCIs can include acts of violence or terrorism, unintentional chemical exposures, extreme weather or natural disasters, and transportation accidents. Given the scope, many communities find themselves the victim of an MCI, but few physician assistant (PA) programs have a curriculum designed to educate students on the unique challenges of caring for patients during an MCI. Our proposal includes a collaborative, active learning experience to prepare PA students for the unique challenges associated with MCI response. Students will undergo didactic learning modules then participate in skills stations and a large-scale simulated MCI. We believe with hands on experience, students will be better equipped to serve their communities in response to an MCI. We believe this training will make them more confident and better prepared members of the community, students on clinical rotations, and practicing PAs. The effectiveness of the new curriculum will be evaluated using a pre and posttest to demonstrate knowledge associated with MCI and participant confidence.