Indian Himalayan Medical Flight Team: Simulation-Based Training

Introduction: The Char Dham Yatra is a sacred Hindu pilgrimage in the Indian Himalayas. Challenging terrain and limited healthcare access in this region lead to delayed medical care, resulting in hundreds of fatalities annually. Hence, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Rishikesh, India, established a critical care helicopter transport team. As no formal air medical transport training exists in India, AIIMS Rishikesh sought external expertise to train the flight nurses. Methods: A simulation-based training program was developed for the AIIMS flight nurses. Following the training, participants completed a post-training survey to assess perceived effectiveness and provide ideas for improvement of the training. Results: Six nurses participated in the training; five completed the survey. All respondents rated the training as either effective or very effective. Four (80%) reported that the simulations significantly enhanced their understanding of AIIMS Medical Operating Guidelines. Three (60%) felt somewhat more prepared, and two (40%) felt much more prepared to care for patients in helicopters after the training. The average rating for the value of simulation-based training was 8.8 out of 10. Open-ended responses identified valuable components of the training, such as live simulated patients and post-simulation debriefing sessions. Discussion: Simulation-based training was perceived as an effective method in preparing AIIMS flight nurses for critical care transport. As such, this project has the potential to save lives and improve outcomes for hundreds of pilgrims each year.