The Norton Children’s Simulation for Pediatric Assessment, Resuscitation and Communication (SPARC) Program educates pediatric clinicians in crisis teamwork skills, procedural skills, pediatric physiology and the delivery of difficult news to patients and families. Physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists and pharmacists participate in these sessions.
Sessions are conducted in multiple locations around the hospital, including the emergency department, operating room and recovery unit, “Just for Kids” Critical Care Center and all pediatric floors. A typical session starts with an introduction to the skills that will be needed for that particular situation. Critical events are simulated using one of two high-fidelity patient simulators. After each simulation, participants are debriefed by program faculty and given time to observe their performance via video recording. During this time they reflect on their actions and discuss development strategies to address any issues.
Family interactions are portrayed using standardized patients as part of the communication skills arm of SPARC, known as the Program for the Approach to Complex Encounters (PACE). Here, clinicians learn important techniques for dealing with the delivery of difficult news to patients and their families. Video-assisted debriefings allow participants to deconstruct and reflect on their experiences. This helps them understand ways to approach such conversations more effectively.
Other SPARC activities include procedural training for pediatric residents and nurses, and educational outreach to local and regional emergency departments. The SPARC Program participates in the INSPIRE Pediatric Simulation Research Collaborative.
Those interested in learning more about the program can contact Amy L. Hanson, M.D., at (847) 917-0787 or at [email protected].
The simulation program is funded by the Norton Children’s Hospital Foundation and has received grants from the University of Louisville School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics, WHAS Crusade for Children and the Kentucky Hospital Association.
Senior Advisors
Aaron W. Calhoun, M.D.
Megan C. Herndon, R.N.
Adjunct Advisor
Vicki L. Montgomery, M.D.
Director
Amy L. Hanson, M.D.
Nursing Director
Erin R. Kirk, R.N.
Assistant Director of Simulation Operations
Megan B. Laniewicz, M.D.
Nursing Lead
Susan M. Webb, APRN
Assistant Director of Simulation Quality
Mary K. Sandquist, M.D.
Rebekah Mulloy, R.N.
Physician Simulation Facilitator
Mary K. Sandquist, M.D.*
Nurse Simulation Facilitators
Lauren Curry, APRN
Dawn Williamson, R.N.
Kelly A. Lyons, D.O.
Eleanor B. Peterson, M.D.*
Jamie M. Furlong-Dillard, D.O.*
ECMO Specialist Simulation Facilitators
Jacquelyn Finks, RRT
John W. Hardin, RRT
Amy L. Johnson, R.N.
Bradley Oelkers, RRT
Teka Siebenaler, RRT*
Dawn K. Williamson, R.N.
Physician Simulation Facilitators
Tara M. Kopp, M.D.*
Cara A. Lowery, R.N.
Jill Masden, R.N.
Beth A. Spurlin, M.D., Ph.D., MBA
Nurse Simulation Facilitator
Jaclyn Gerard, R.N.
Recruiting
Taylor C. Bergman, R.N.
Heather N. Hartlage, R.N.
Barbara J. Furey, R.N.
Milly Green, R.N.
Shannon K. Evans, M.D.
Keri A. Marques, M.D.*
Leanna G. Magner, R.N.
Karen L. Orman, M.D.*
“Just for Kids” Transport Team Simulation Facilitators
Donna M. Callahan, R.N.
Pennie L. Crady, R.N.*
Aaron W. Calhoun, M.D.*
Morgan Fryman, R.N.
Ashley N. Johnson, R.N.
Keri A. Marques, M.D.
Nursing support consistent with content expertise
Recruiting for physician and/or CRNA lead
Kaley Davidson, R.N.
Caroline Stilz, R.N.