Simulation is an “educational method that can be applied to the training of processes, technical, and non-technical skills.” Literature underlines how simulating with the maximum realism possible improves the quality of training.

To describe the methodology used by CRIMEDIM to create a high-quality database of clinical cases to improve the realism of the EU MODEX exercises.

In 2021, CRIMEDIM created a new database of clinical cases with disaster and non-disaster-related injuries and diseases to be used for the EU MODEX exercises. Each clinical case has four temporal stages: prehospital, T0, T1, and T2, and each of them has two possible variations: Type A (improvement) and Type B (deterioration). Timing and treatments received (or not received) determine the evolution between one step and the following one. Each clinical case consists of past medical history, disaster-related history, drugs, and allergies. There are also various exams (eg, blood tests [blood count, ABG, biochemical test, coagulation], imaging [ultrasound, XR, CT], and EKG) and other clinical information. The database allows printing casualty cards, each containing instructions for role players and make-up artists.

At this moment, the database consists of 1,174 clinical cases, with the possibility to create new cases according to different disaster scenarios, training needs, and learning objectives.

According to participants’ feedback, the introduction of such an innovative and comprehensive database seemed to have improved the quality and the realism of the Medical EU MODEX.