“The Beat Goes On” was recorded decades ago by Sonny and Cher, but today it’s the motivational theme behind a new way of performing Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) that was adopted recently by Yavapai Regional Medical Center (YRMC).
Sponsored by the American Heart Association (AHA), Resuscitation Quality Improvement (RQI), as it’s called, uses the latest learning technology and simulation stations to teach CPR.
“For me, the Sonny and Cher song demonstrates what RQI is trying to achieve,” said Kim Walters, RN, YRMC’s Employee Health and Wellness Department and winner of the organization-wide contest to name RQI at YRMC.
And what is RQI striving to achieve?
“Its goal is to coach healthcare professionals to perfection on CPR,” said Walters.
Watch RQI: The Beat Goes On on YouTube.
Meet the Sims
Thanks to technology, it’s possible to know if you have achieved Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) perfection, also called skills mastery. RQI features two sim (simulation) carts: one with a computerized adult manikin to teach adult/child CPR and the other with a computerized infant manikin used to teach infant CPR. The sim carts provide immediate feedback on all aspects of CPR:
- Chest compression depth
- Speed of chest compressions
- Adequacy of ventilations
“While you’re performing CPR on the manikin, the computer is taking measurements to ensure you’re giving the correct lifesaving support,” said Merci Burton, RN, Clinical Education Specialist at YRMC.
The correct ventilation/compression ratio for adults is 30:2. That means providing two rescue breaths after 30 compressions and maintaining a steadying rhythm of 100 to 120 beats per minute. For children, the compression ratio is 15:2.
CPR Scenarios Save Lives
In addition to skills mastery – which YRMC team members will pursue every three months – RQI includes annual online e-learning modules. YRMC nurses and other healthcare professionals work on these at sim stations located at YRMC East and YRMC West over a 12-month period.
“This is the critical thinking aspect of the new technology,” Burton said.
Each module outlines different scenarios. At an RQI sim station, YRMC team members command their avatars to take certain actions in response to the given scenario.
“A scenario could be as direct as, ‘someone has collapsed in the hospital lobby,’” explained Burton. “Using the computer, you input the steps you’re taking—checking the person’s pulse, hooking up an automated external defibrillator, starting CPR and other actions.”
Name that Manikin
YRMC launched “The Beat Goes On” over two days during “super user” training sessions, which involved 100 voluntary YRMC team members. These healthcare professionals will in turn introduce RQI to their respective teams, around 1,100 additional healthcare providers.
But, there’s still one decision to be made with regard to “The Beat Goes On”: What to name the manikins?
According to Burton, that will happen during another organization-wide naming contest.
Kim Walters is no doubt betting on “Sonny” and “Cher.”