Replacing the 565 series of Noelle Birthing Manikins, Gaumard released their new 554.100 manikin model today.

This mid-range Noelle costs less than the flagship 575 series model but still has most of the same functionality including the birthing mechanism, automated hemorrhaging, pulses and more.  Dilated pupils or other advanced eye systems are not included on this model, which also does not run wirelessly.  But the price is also significantly less as well!  Watch the video below to learn more about the features of Noelle 554.100!

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Take the tour of the new Gaumard Noelle 554.100!

Registration for GHOSTS 2012 is now live!  A limited number of early-bird tickets are going fast so get yours now!

http://www.simghosts.org/tickets

And just below is the latest copy of the GHOSTS 2012 Brochure! Over thirty-five presentations were submitted to GHOSTS this year from Sim Techs as far away as Australia!

Click to download GHOSTS 2012 Brochure!

Highlights from this year’s meeting include:

• Comprehensive Trauma Moulage Pre-Conference Workshop
• (50% Off Normal Course Fees!!)
• CAE Sponsored Party at Insert Coins Video Game Bar on Fremont Street in Downtown Las Vegas
• Keynote from an Aviation Simulation Technician
• LifelineMobile and Guamard Sponsored Mobile Simulation Lab Truck from Scottsdale Healthcare
• Operations Manual Development Workshop
• An opportunity to meet with manikin vendors and help shape future technology
• Split course tracks for beginners, intermediate and advanced Sim Techs
• Were staying at the Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino, which has a water-slide through a Shark Tank!
• DIY Video Contest
• Check out the brochure for much more!

METI, now a brand name of CAE Healthcare, was at IMSH 2012 this year demonstrating the company’s continued commitment to being a leader in healthcare education.  At IMSH, I spoke with Regional Sales Director Brian Donohue about what this merger means for the medical simulation community as well as what we can expect from CAE Healthcare in 2012.

Also, be sure to check out my preview demonstration of the CAE Viamedix Ultrasound Simulator.  What really excites me about this merger is the amazing potential CAE now has to bring lessons learned from over half-a-century of simulation in aviation and other massive industries to the medical simulation community.

Now that METI is under the umbrella of CAE Healthcare and will have access to all this additional experiences I have a strong feeling we will be seeing a lot more trend-setting announcements from the company in the years to come.

Check out this amazing CAE 3000 helicopter simulator to see what I am talking about!

 Visit CAE Healthcare and METI to learn more.

Did you know that last year the “Gathering of Technicians” event was the world’s first conference dedicated specifically to Healthcare Simulation Technicians?  Over 85 Sim Techs from around the U.S. & Canada came to Las Vegas for two days of hands on training in manikin programming from all major vendors, hardware maintenance, audio video production, medical terminology, lab operations, team communication and medical moulage?   Check out highlights from last years GOT SIM!

Well, after many months of hard work, I am happy to share that the NEW website for the annual “Gathering of Technicians”, which is now being called the “Gathering of Healthcare Simulation Technology Specialists”(or GHOSTS) has finally launched!  Check it out at:

http://www.SimGhosts.Org

SimGhosts.Org is the online hub for the GHOSTS meeting, which is taking place August 3rd and 4th, 2012 in LAS VEGAS!

Also at the new website, you can also join a list-serv to engage in conversations with other Sim Techs from around the world, as well as find shared simulation lab documentation, links, how-tos, and other valuable resources!

Do you want to teach at GHOSTS 2012?

This year we have opened a call for presentations from the community. Submit a GHOSTS presentation proposal by MARCH 16th to share your valuable insights with the Healthcare Simulation Technology Specialist Community. 

Presenters will have discounted registration for GHOSTS 2012!

So check out the new SimGHOSTS website and welcome to GHOSTS!

Looking forward to August,

Lance & the GHOSTS Team!

Laerdal has released several teasers for an upcoming tablet/ipad device to be released for IMSH 2012, which promises to provide “a world of simulation in the palm of your hand”.  Read more of the Laerdal teaser here.

Laerdal continues on saying “When you can apply more functionality to your existing platform, you’ll be able to maximize potential in every simulation scenario. You’ll also enjoy increased flexibility, which will allow you to tailor the simulation to meet your specific needs. The result is more effective teaching.”

To me this sounds like a mobile device or application which will enable you to quickly have information about the currently running scenario as well as take notes for debriefing purposes.  We will have to wait and see if the new device can also control Laerdal hardware like task trainers, 3Gs or SimView.  I’ll be sure to post a review from IMSH!

Gaumard has released the latest S3201 model of their flagship adult simulator, HAL.

“The most advanced simulator of its kind, offering instructors the ability to change conditions through a wireless tablet PC, while students get accurate feedback using real medical devices.”

Here’s a quick review of some of the HAL S3201 features:

Dynamic airway and lung compliance

Change lung compliance/airway resistance during scenario and see results on a real ventilator. HAL holds PEEP, triggers the ventilator, and exhales real and measurable CO2. Use our pre-programmed pathologies or create your own.

12 Lead ECG with integrated MI model

Display and interpret HAL’s 12 lead ECG using your real 12 lead monitor. Choose from the thousands of cardiac rhythms in our ECG library or create your own with our rhythm editor. Use integrated MI module to specify occlusions, ischemia or necrosis.

Drug Recognition System

Identifies drug type and volume injected into veins of right hand and forearm. Use our formulary or yours. Effect is determined by physiologic model, updating the simulated vital signs monitor.

GIGA Software

Basic view provides windows for the 3D model of the simulator, a completely configurable vital signs monitor and an activities log. 3D image can be rotated or enlarged; the skin removed and physiologic parameters accessed to change any elements of a powerful physiologic engine.

The Monitor

Includes 20 inch touchscreen virtual monitor. Display up to 12 numeric values including HR, ABP, CVP, PAWP, NIRP, CCO, SpO2, SvO2, RR, EtCO2, temperature, and time. Select up to 12 dynamic waveforms including ECG Lead I, II, III, aVR, aVL, aVF, V1, V2, V3, V4, V5, V6, AVP, CVP, PAWP, pulse, CCO, SvO2, respiration, capnography. Share images such as x-rays, CT scans, lab results as the scenario progresses.

Read the Gaumard HAL S3201 press release, and download the HAL S3201 brochure.

Learn more at the Gaumard website!

Awhile back I posted about the NCSBN National Survey for Simulation.

I just checked back with the NCSBN website and they have a great new video!

NCSBN National Simulation Study Overview from NCSBN Interactive on Vimeo.

Good stuff!

iSysGlobal helped to sponsor breakfast for the 110 participants of the Gathering of Technicians meeting at the Clinical Simulation Center of Las Vegas earlier this month.  I spent some time with David Ortolani from iSysGlobal to learn more about their Audio/Video systems.  Check out my video interview from the meeting:

iSysGlobal’s website explains the company “provides a complete, multi-camera, high-quality video and audio system that any facility can use to film, store and review medical simulations. Not only is the iSys solution affordable, but it is the best video simulation product in the marketplace.

In addition to portability, ease of use and low cost, this solution makes the review and analysis of simulations a dream come true. Multiple camera angles and patient monitors may be simultaneously viewed from a single screen; likewise, multiple wireless microphones may be used and then isolated during playback so that each individual participant’s voice can be clearly heard.

To ensure that the complete simulation experience is reviewable, we interface and integrate with “patient simulators.”Then, while professionals and students are reviewing filmed simulations, they will be able to see and hear the interaction of participants as well as view the synchronized feedback coming from patient simulators.”

Learn more about iSysGlobal and what they can do for your sim labs!

CAE, a global leader in Simulation has acquired METI today for $130 Million.

New to CAE? Check out my review of CAE’s new trauma manikin CAEsar and their Vimedix Ultrasound Simulator.

CAE was founded in 1947 and is headquartered in Canada. With clients in more than 100 countries, CAE has the broadest global reach of any simulation and training equipment and services company on the market.

Here’s some of the press release:

Montreal, Canada and Sarasota, USA, August 24, 2011 – CAE Healthcare, a division of CAE,  and Medical Education Technologies, Inc. (METI), a worldwide leader in medical simulation  technologies and educational software, today announced that CAE Healthcare has acquired  METI for US$130 million. With this acquisition, CAE Healthcare gains important global market  access, significantly expands its product and services offering and becomes a leader in  simulation-based technology for healthcare. CAE Healthcare acquired 100% of the shares of  METI, whose main operations are located in a state-of-the-art 76,000 square foot facility in  Sarasota, Florida, USA, as well as in Hungary and Germany.

“The acquisition of METI is an important step in the advancement of our healthcare strategy  because it expands CAE Healthcare’s product portfolio and gives it much greater market access,”  said Marc Parent, CAE’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “With this acquisition, our New  Core Markets segment, comprised of CAE Healthcare and CAE Mining, achieves greater critical  mass. We expect this segment to achieve more than C$120 million of revenue and to be  profitable in fiscal 2013. METI is a premier organization with a global customer footprint and  distribution channels, an extensive portfolio of products and services, a solid management team  and a proven track-record of profitability and customer service. We welcome Michael Bernstein,  CEO of METI, who becomes President of CAE Healthcare, we welcome the METI team and look  forward to providing our new and existing customers with the most innovative, best-in-class  training solutions and continuous service support.”

“The opportunity to become part of CAE, the de facto standard in the world of simulation, is great  for our employees, our customers and for the healthcare community as a whole,” said Michael  Bernstein, CEO of METI. “By joining a world-leading company with CAE’s credibility and a track  record of improving quality, safety and efficiency with simulation-based training, we will be able to  take the healthcare simulation industry to an entirely new level.”

METI (www.meti.com) has over 200 employees and works with a team of 50 clinical educators.  The company’s revenues currently exceed US$60 million. The entire family of METI simulators,  including baby, pediatric and adult, are designed to mimic human medical scenarios including  trauma, heart attack, drug overdose and effects of bioterrorism. Today, approximately 6,000  METI simulators are in use worldwide by medical schools, nursing schools, hospitals, defence  forces and other entities involved in healthcare education and training. The company has a  network of more than 40 distributors in 40 countries.”