Starting Together: Using VEMS for Emergency Department Trainee Orientation

Starting work in a new Emergency Department comes with a lot to learn. There are new systems, new processes, new expectations—and, importantly, a whole new group of people to work alongside.

So why not start by solving problems together?

Recently, a group of ED trainees used Visually Enhanced Mental Simulation (VEMS) as part of their orientation, working their way through a series of challenging emergency medicine cases.

Gathered around a table, trainees assessed patients, interpreted investigations, considered competing priorities, learned the norms of the place, and decided what they would do next as each scenario evolved.

More than clinical knowledge

The cases provided an opportunity to revisit important clinical concepts, but the learning went well beyond what to do.

As trainees worked through the scenarios, they also had to articulate their thinking, listen to different perspectives, negotiate uncertainty and develop a shared plan, think about what might be different or the same at this new site. These are exactly the skills they will need when caring for real patients together.

Orientation is often focused on helping people understand how a department works. Simulation can also help people begin to understand how their new team works.

Who speaks up when they notice something?
How do we make decisions when the answer isn't obvious?
How do we bring different perspectives together?
What happens when our initial plan isn't working?

These conversations can start before the first difficult shift.

Simple tools, meaningful practice

One of the advantages of VEMS is that this kind of practice doesn't require a simulation centre or elaborate equipment.

A group of learners, a table, a challenging case and some simple visual tools can create an opportunity for rich discussion, active problem-solving, and relationship building.

And the facilitation can be adapted to the group. Cases might begin as a relatively supported discussion before progressing toward more immersive scenarios where participants need to communicate, make decisions and act together with greater urgency.

For a group just beginning their ED training at a new site, that's a pretty useful way to spend some time together.

Get your Basekit and ED Scenarios to elevate your next ED orientation.