KI teacher is the best in the world at saving lives

When the world championship in advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation was decided in Milan, the Swedish team Team ROSC stood at the top of the podium. After first progressing from the qualifying rounds, the team defeated competitors from Italy and Czechia in the final and could call themselves world champions. 

The team included John-Åke Palm, a nurse anaesthetist and lecturer at the Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, KI.

The competition is held in connection with the European Resuscitation Council’s annual congress. Last year, Team ROSC took part in the European Championships in Rotterdam and won gold. When participants from several continents joined this year, the competition was upgraded to a world championship.

Realistic scenarios set high demands

The competition is based on realistic patient cases in which teams must assess, treat and work together under time pressure. In the qualifying rounds, all scenarios involved children. One case concerned an eight-year-old boy who had suffered a cardiac arrest.
In the final, the teams instead faced adult patients and even higher demands on both medical expertise and teamwork.

– We have trained a great deal together and had the opportunity to refine our medical knowledge, our teamwork and our communication, says John-Åke Palm.

The ability to work together is crucial when seconds can be the difference between life and death.

More than a competition

For the participants, the championship is about far more than medals and rankings. The training provides an opportunity to practise situations that can arise at any time in everyday clinical work.

– It is rewarding to compete in something that is so important in our daily work, being able to save lives, while also feeling that we have actually developed since last year’s European Championship, says John-Åke Palm.

He emphasises that the experience gained from the competition also benefits patients and colleagues.

– For us, it is not just about the competition itself and the win, but about being as well prepared as possible for situations that can arise at any time in real life.

Knowledge that is passed on

Team ROSC consists of doctors and nurses from different parts of Swedish healthcare. They are all instructors in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, first aid and medical simulation. As a result, the experience from the championship has a direct link to education and professional development in healthcare.

Next year, a new world championship awaits in Glasgow, Scotland, and the team is already planning to defend its title.

– Above all, we look forward to taking the experience back to our training in scenario-based practice, teamwork, team leadership and communication. We can use this when training both students and staff at the hospital, says John-Åke Palm.