Robert Pascucci

Dr. Pascucci's current research is based within the Children's Hospital Simulator program, where he has assisted in the development of simulation as a teaching tool for pediatric residents on their ICU rotation. In this capacity, he has focused on the use of simulation to teach not only crisis-management skills but also to teach typical ICU skills (airway management, line insertion) and team development. As a member of the Program to Enhance Relationship and Communication Skills (PERCS) development team, he has also been instrumental in the expansion of simulation teaching techniques to the domain of interpersonal communication. PERCS participants explore and expand their ability to communicate and develop relationships with parents, patients, and other health care personnel as they deal with difficult conversations (end-of-life, medical error, angry parent issues are examples) in the course of providing health care. In addition to providing these experiences to the direct participants, the program is attempting to develop methods to assess its effectiveness in so doing, and is developing videotaped tools for use in the education of a wider audience.