Near Remote Method to Guide Performance of Regional Anesthesia
Trial Parameters
Brief Summary
Ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia/analgesia techniques (or simply, 'regional blocks') have gained popularity as they can reduce, and sometimes even eliminate, the need for opiate analgesics (and, consequently, their side effects), thereby improving patient safety, reducing length of hospital stay and medical costs, and improving patient satisfaction. However, a major barrier to mainstream uptake of such techniques relates to training. These techniques require the acquisition of new skills under expert guidance, which is often not possible given the daily demands placed upon anesthesiologists. As a result, many opportunities for providing regional blocks may be missed. The purpose of this study is to implement a new real-time 'near remote' guidance method in which trainees who are to perform regional blocks can do so via tele-mentoring under expert guidance. This will be done using a novel technology whereby the ultrasound image is concurrently displayed on an iPad screen (for the block operator/trainee) as well as on the (near remotely supervising) expert mentor's smartphone. Trainees and mentors will use this method to perform various standard of care regional blocks, either in the perioperative or emergency department settings. Participants' opinions of the novel teaching and learning method will be assessed.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Mentors: Staff anesthesiologists who are experts in regional blocks. * Trainees: Senior (PGY3-5) residents (anesthesiology and emergency medicine), and staff (emergency medicine) physicians who have already performed and are comfortable with being supervised near remotely for the regional block at hand. * Patients: Greater or equal to 18 years of age presenting for surgery or with traumatic injuries amenable to regional blocks. * All of the above: Able to read and understand English, and competent to provide written informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * Mentors: Staff anesthesiologists who are not experts in the performance/teaching of regional blocks. * Trainees: Junior (PGY1-2) residents (for any/all types of regional blocks), and senior (PGY3-5) residents and staff physicians who are not comfortable with being supervised near remotely for the regional block at hand. * Patients: Less than 18 years of age. * All of the above: Unable to read and understand Engli