In 2013, Dr. Ashley Hill, physician leaders, nursing leaders and educators came back from a simulation conference excited to start their own program called M.O.S.T.® (Multi-professional Obstetrics Simulation Training).
The team analyzed the mortality rate of moms and babies and found that the most common reason for birthing complications was a communication mismatch between people on the team in emergency situations. They knew they could make a difference, but it would be a big undertaking since the program would be one of the few at that time in the United States. Dr. Hill shared,
“We train on obstetric emergencies that we feel would benefit from a team response such as shoulder dystocia, abnormal fetal heart rate evaluation, maternal heart attacks, and postpartum hemorrhage. We go over how to handle these emergencies and then rapidly cycle through simulation training which is as close as you can reasonably get to an emergency situation. We have simulated patients and we have state-of-the-art equipment that we've acquired over the years.”
As the training evolved it became logistically difficult to travel around to so many areas. Initially, they put all the equipment in the back of their SUVS and would cart it around to different hospitals in Central Florida to provide this free training. Eventually they moved the program to one Thursday night every month at the AdventHealth simulation center located in Altamonte Springs.
The program is mandatory for all Central Florida AdventHealth physicians, midwives and labor nurses. Each year the M.O.S.T.® team teaches over 450 attendees, including healthcare professionals visiting from other hospitals around Florida.
Since starting the M.O.S.T.® program there has been an improvement in adverse outcomes such as neonatal broken bones and nerve injuries and postpartum hemorrhages. Since this program started Dr. Hill gets messages often from physicians and nurses thanking the team.
“In the last emergency I was a part of, the nurses looked at each other and knew an emergency was coming. The lead nurse asked if everyone had completed the M.O.S.T.®. training and all nodded their heads, yes. They looked at me and said they felt comfortable tackling this emergency and providing strong patient care.”
Simulation training like the M.O.S.T.® program make a huge difference in the lives of patients and families at AdventHealth across Central Florida. Quality training and simulation equipment at AdventHealth is made possible with the support from generous donors.
“AdventHealth delivers 15,000 babies a year at Central Florida so donating to a program like this has the potential to save not just mom’s lives, but babies’ lives from these birthing complications.” - Dr. Hill, medical director of the M.O.S.T.® simulation program.
You can help to fund even more simulation training that will go on to impact patients and families at AdventHealth. We don't know what's coming, but we do know that you can help us prepare to face it. Click here to make a gift to support training physicians and nurses to provide the best care, close to home.
