CICU/ORL
(Cardiac Intensive Care Unit/Otolaryngology) Course
Cardiac-ORL Collaborative Simulation

CICU/ORL Simulation Course

The CICU/ORL Simulation Course is a collaborative effort between the BCH Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) staff—including intensivists, nurses, and respiratory therapists—and the Otolaryngology service. The course’s primary goal is to improve care for critically ill pediatric cardiac patients by preparing teams to manage airway emergencies within the CICU setting.

This in situ course takes place within the CICU environment.

Educational Goals

Foster Interdisciplinary Dialogue: Encourage open communication between CICU and Otolaryngology teams about the challenges of managing airway emergencies in cardiac patients.
Practice Crisis Resource Management (CRM): Reinforce communication, leadership, and teamwork skills through simulation-based application of CRM principles.

Simulation is the ideal platform for these objectives, as it recreates high-stakes clinical scenarios with teams of varying backgrounds and experience levels.

Participants

Each course includes:

Intensivist: One fellow or attending
CICU Nurses: 4–5 nurses (from novice to senior nursing staff)
Respiratory Therapist: One
Clinical Assistant: One
Otolaryngologists: One pediatric ORL fellow and one ORL resident

Latent Safety Errors

A key focus of this simulation is the identification of latent safety threats—especially related to emergency airway equipment. Early sessions revealed issues with the accessibility and completeness of airway carts. Over time, this has led to substantial improvements in equipment organization and readiness, ultimately boosting patient safety.