The Mock Code an Educational Tool in International Medical Missions

Objective: Humanitarian medical and/or surgical missions have become common over the past 50 years. Little is known, however, about the quality of these missions, especially when a patient becomes unstable and requires resuscitation. We would like to present the “mock code” Operation Smile uses to ensure the best quality of care should a medical or surgical emergency arise during a mission. Operation Smile, a worldwide children’s medical charity, provides surgery for children with correctable facial deformities in 51 countries. The mock code was initially implemented as an educational tool to enhance skills and team dynamics. It has become a useful practice for preparing a team of medical professionals to respond to an unexpected medical or surgical emergency. A mock code is performed at each mission prior to the start of the surgical week. The mission team consists of 35-60 members, including medical professionals from many different countries and diverse backgrounds. Team members have varying levels of expertise, and thus a mock code is vital to give good resuscitative care. The volume of cases, the variety of professional backgrounds, the unfamiliar equipment and protocols, the language and cultural barriers, and the fact that these individuals have not previously worked together makes it essential to develop an emergency-preparedness plan. Emergencies involving pediatric patients generate a great deal of anxiety for the child, for the parents, and for the medical and nursing staff involved. Running an emergency code is always a challenge, especially when the patient is a child. Conclusion: The use of this tool allows us to build a special alliance between medical and nursing staff prior to an emergency. The mock code empowers nurses and doctors to feel more prepared to respond to pediatric emergencies and improve the quality of resuscitative care, should the need arise.