Innovative 3D printing technology is set to enhance the way MICA paramedics refine their critical airway management skills.
A partnership between Ambulance Victoria (AV) and Yarra Ranges Tech School (Box Hill Institute) is currently developing 3D-printed plastic larynx trainers, known as 'cric trainers,' to improve procedural competency in cricothyroidotomy.
The cric trainers, when combined with adjunct materials such as bubble wrap, tape, and bandages, provide high-fidelity simulation of anterior neck access. The ability to repeatedly practise scalpel-finger-bougie technique in a controlled environment has significantly enhanced paramedic proficiency and confidence. Initial feedback from MICA clinicians who have undertaken training with the 3D airway models indicates a strong correlation between simulation and real-world procedural performance.
Since the partnership commenced in 2021, over 170 cric trainers have been fabricated and utilised in more than 110 training sessions. Participants in the MICA Bridging Program have each been issued a trainer to facilitate continued skill consolidation at a branch level. This initiative has contributed to an observed 95 per cent procedural success rate post-training, reinforcing the value of high-fidelity simulation in critical skill acquisition.
The additive manufacturing process allows for cost-effective production and iterative refinement of trainer design, ensuring alignment with best practice standards. The trainers are fabricated at Yarra Ranges Tech School via a downloadable 3D model, highlighting the intersection of emerging technology and paramedic education. For the students involved in their production, this collaboration has provided insight into real-world medical applications of 3D printing.
While still in the developmental phase, this initiative underscores AV’s commitment to advancing clinical education through innovative simulation methodologies. Further expansion into additional procedural skill trainers is being explored, with the overarching goal of optimising paramedic preparedness and patient outcomes in high-acuity scenarios.
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