Implementing a Large-Scale Escape Room: An Intervention to Increase Electronic Health Record Downtime Competence

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Education
• Medical Informatics
• Simulation-Based Learning

Background:

• Electronic health record (EHR) systems are critical for modern healthcare.
• Downtime events in EHR systems pose significant challenges to clinical workflows and patient care.
• Competence in managing EHR downtime is essential for healthcare professionals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of an escape room simulation in improving nurses' competence during electronic health record downtime.
• To evaluate participant motivation and learning influenced by the escape room experience.

Main Methods:

• A tabletop escape room simulation designed around a zombie invasion scenario was utilized.
• Seventy-four nurses participated in the escape room activity.
• The impact on EHR downtime competence was evaluated through participant feedback and subsequent real-world event performance.

Main Results:

• 92% of participating nurses reported high motivation levels due to the escape room.
• 90% of participants felt the escape room significantly enhanced their learning experience.
• The effectiveness of the training was validated during an unplanned EHR downtime event shortly after the simulation.

Conclusions:

• Escape room simulations offer an innovative and effective method for training healthcare professionals in EHR downtime procedures.
• This gamified approach can significantly improve engagement, motivation, and knowledge retention for critical healthcare informatics skills.
• Simulation-based training, like escape rooms, can positively impact preparedness for real-world healthcare system disruptions.