Emergo Train System® [ETS] general description
Emergo Train System [ETS] is an interactive simulation training system that has been developed at the KMC (Centre for Teaching and Research in Disaster Medicine and Traumatology) at the University of Linköping, Sweden.
ETS can be used for education, training and simulation in disaster medicine and multiple casualty incidents [MCIs]. At the same time, the ETS is a tool for te-sting and evaluating Incident Command Systems, hospital readiness and response in medical disasters and MCI’s.
Emergo Train System [ETS] is an academic and educational simulation system used in several countries around the world. It is simple in use and does not require complex equipment.
The system is based on magnetic symbols on whiteboards that represent patients, staff and resources, as well as movable markers for indicating priority and treatment. The core of the system is the victim and patient banks, which includes validated protocols for patient outcome given the applied treatments.
ETS is not a course in disaster medicine in and of itself, nor is it a concept on how to manage a major incident. Rather, it is an educational tool that can be used with any other educational concept or guidelines, from basic to advanced level, in the field of emergency and disaster medicine in any country.
A process of rules and regulations [management doctrines] to follow are needed in all organisations dealing with disaster management. These rules must also to be implemented within the organisations. ETS can be used in conjunction with any kind of management doctrine and different guidelines.
An appropriate level of education and training in the special principals and management practises for major incidents and disasters are imperative.
Training programs in disaster management that include exercises have been shown to significantly improved knowledge of professionals and by setting up standardised national training programs, it is possible to enhance knowledge in a short period of time.
The literature often distinguishes between process indicators and outcome indicators. Process indicators measure the repeatable sequence of actions used to improve or produce a good patient outcome, e.g. the output of activities or interventions. Measurable performance indicators are mostly described as tools that should be “specific, measurable, actions oriented, relevant and timely situations”. The ETS addresses this by including measurable performance indicators for management and outcome indicators such as the risk for preventable death and preventable complication for every patient in the system.
The need for training and the use of academic educational simulation system where results can be measured and compared is something that also can be used for research.
ETS is adaptable to any organisation or way of working, does not implicate or change any methodology, but gives an objective result that can be used for further development of the own organisation.