Photo Caption: Erin Van Allen (centre), speaks to the West Parry Sound Health Centre team during a training scenario.
By: Navo Chakraborty, West Parry Sound Health Centre
Delays in treatment, communication breakdowns, and inadequate care in emergency departments can result in adverse patient outcomes. At West Parry Sound Health Centre (WPSHC), minimizing these risks is a shared responsibility—one embraced by both the institution and its dedicated practitioners.
With this in mind, health care providers at WPSHC participated in a two-day training session on April 28 and 29, 2025 led by Dr. Shawn Segeren and Erin Van Allen, RN, of Dynamic Simulation. While the initiative involved nurses, anaesthetists, respiratory therapists, physician assistants and physicians from various departments, it primarily focused on emergency and critical care practitioners.
The Dynamic Simulation team hosted up to eight simulated sessions per day, covering scenarios ranging from polytrauma, amputations and traumatic cardiac arrest to critically ill neonatal cases such as neonatal sepsis and cardiac lesions. Although WPSHC has conducted simulations in the past, the breadth and depth of those offered by Dynamic Simulation provided several key learning opportunities. In particular, the real-time feedback and education proved invaluable in reinforcing key takeaways from each session.
The “focus on the little stuff in the big picture … [provided] ways to make a very busy, chaotic situation calmer, more controlled,” said Milly Thomson, clinical nurse educator and enterprise resource planning lead.
Alongside real-time feedback, teams at WPSHC also received a post-training Clinical Optimisation Report and post-scenario debriefs. The report reinforced best practices at WPSHC and highlighted areas for improvement in emergency response, including equipment, lines of communication and ease of access to resources. As a result, the WPSHC team implemented changes that clarified roles and responsibilities, streamlined communication and enabled quicker access to reference materials.
Dynamic Simulation also helped WPSHC identify prospective equipment acquisitions and planning strategies that could improve treatment or diagnosis timelines—particularly in paediatric emergencies. Given that fewer than 12 per cent of Parry Sound’s population is under the age of 14, this patient group is significantly underrepresented in the health care setting. Having an external party review and recommend policies and equipment tailored to this demographic ensures WPSHC can meet the care needs of all potential patients.
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic where these types of opportunities were absent, WPSHC staff were especially eager to participate in this hands-on training. The ability to interact and learn as a team was invaluable—especially considering the adverse impact poor teamwork and communication can have on outcomes in emergency departments. Not only did the sessions foster collaboration and improve teamwork, but the clarification of roles and the flow of information will also help reduce miscommunication. This, in turn, is expected to shorten patient wait times, improve operational efficiency and lead to more positive health outcomes.
This training with Dynamic Simulation reflects WPSHC’s commitment to ongoing education, continuous improvement and adherence to best practices.
Outside perspectives allow WPSHC to identify areas for improvement that may not be visible from within, while comprehensive educational sessions ensure the team is equipped to provide the highest level of care. As WPSHC continues to prioritize excellence in patient care, initiatives like this simulation training underscore the organization’s commitment to innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning.