The University of South Florida recently opened the new 90,000 square foot Center for Advanced Medical Learning & Simulation in Tampa. The new building is a $38-million dollar investment by the University, designed to support learning of health professionals (medicine, nursing, pharmacy, public health, pre-hospital, allied health) across the continuum of education (undergraduate, graduate, and practicing), military healthcare professionals, medical specialty societies, industry representatives, and researchers.

The CAMLS website further explains that their “portfolio of activities includes nationally recognized professional society courses (e.g., Advanced Trauma Life Support, Fundamental Critical Care Support, Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery, and Neonatal Resuscitation Program), already available specialty-designed curricula, courses customized to fit specific needs, interprofessional teamwork curricula, individual learner remediation and workforce reintegration programs, assessment of learner competency, and health technology development and commercialization. The nationally recognized Team STEPPS program, sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), is a featured teamwork model. The debriefing experience is an essential part of adult learning; at CAMLS, reflection is encouraged in a non-threatening, supportive environment.”

If you would like to learn more, be sure to download the CAMLS brochure & their fact sheet as well as watch the CAMLS video to learn more about this amazing new Sim Center:

The American College of Cardiology has also accredited CAMLS as a Center of Excellence in Education and Training, the first designation of its kind!

Today I am thrilled to announce a NEW meeting specifically designed for Healthcare Simulation Program Administrators to be called HealthySimAdmin! Taking place October 18th + 19th at the University of Nevada Las Vegas Greenspun Hall, this one-of-a-kind event promises to provide the answers our growing community has overwhelming requested!  Join us in Las Vegas or watch this event live from your office desktop.

So check out the new HealthySimAdmin page to watch the announcement video, share your needs, subscribe for updates, meet our expert panel and learn more!

Would you like to learn more about teaching using simulation?  The Behling Simulation Center at the University at Buffalo is pleased to announce our 2012 dates for simulation methodology courses!  Each course provides the hands on, practical knowledge you need to provide effective immersive simulations for your students.  Classes are small (8-10 learners each) and provide a mentoring environment for the learner. Download the “Nuts & Bolts Simulation Methodology Course” Overview.

Nuts and Bolts of Simulation Methodology:
March 14-16, 2012
June 4-6, 2012
August 15-17, 2012
November 14-16, 2012

Fine Tuning Debriefing Skills:
June 7-8, 2012
(Note, you must have either taken a simulation methodology course or actively running and debriefing immersive simulation exercises for at least one year as a pre-requisite for this course).

A more detailed description of the course content, tuition, lodging and on-line registration can be found by following this link: http://ahc.buffalo.edu/simulation/courses.php or by calling (716) 829-2467.

The Behling Simulation Center is located at the University at Buffalo in the Academic Health Center servicing the five health professions schools at the University specializing in immersive patient care management simulation with a focus on interprofessional simulation education.  Buffalo can be conveniently reached by air or ground transportation and is located 20 minutes from Niagara Falls, two hours South of the major metropolitan area of Toronto, ON, three hours from Cleveland, OH, and an hour’s flight from most East coast and Mid-west airline hubs.

SUNY hopes to see you in Buffalo!

At IMSH I presented Streamlining Daily Sim Lab Operations with Kam McCowan and Darin Bowers.  This course was designed to share strategies to increase efficiency in your sim lab, which is crucial to the long-term success of your program.  As the Director of the Clinical Simulation Center of Las Vegas I shared some administrative secrets to help increase such efficiency.  (The article starts here and is continued by clicking the “read more” link below.)

Meetings

First, to ensure your simulation team has an opportunity to discuss daily operations, be sure to create a protected time Monday morning for a weekly staff meeting.  This meeting will provide staff a chance to go over issues from the previous week as well as coordinate for the week scheduled ahead.  Addressing concerns from the previous week will provide an opportunity to develop policies and procedures that will help prevent such issues from repeating in the future.   Coordinating the week ahead will ensure your team is scheduled correctly for the current week’s simulations.  As well, the team will be able to report on equipment, updating each other about items that are out-of-service, new or that need to be ordered.  Be sure to have an administrative or simulation assistant take minutes from the meeting so action items can be given due dates and progress can be mapped.

Read the rest of this entry »

The Air Force Medical Modeling and Simulation Training team was on-hand in the Military Expo at IMSH this year to let attendees know about their mission: to build a distributed human patient simulation network, create simulation centers of excellence, and exploit technological innovation.  I spoke with LtCol (ret) Shae Peters from AFMMAST who helped explain the benefits of simulation for professional healthcare providers.

Much like rural hospitals which can sometimes have difficulty training healthcare professionals due to infrequency of patient events, AFMMAST has found ways to incorporate simulation to expand the training potential of Air Force Medical professionals.  What is especially important to note is how AFMMAST utilized simulation to help expand training efforts even with a shrinking budget across global regions .

For more information about AFMMAST, check out the AFMMAST website as well as the video below!

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!

iSimulate unveiled their new product software for the iPad called ALSi, which allows for patient vital sign presentation. Promising to turn any low-fidelty task trainer into a higher-fidelity engagement is what iSimulate is all about. The ASLi application can also be used on any standardized patient or other live-patient confederate actor to present your learners with real-time simulated vital signs.

iSimulate, an Australian based company, operates a unique business model where your institution signs up for an annual membership fee which then provides you access to all of their simulation products.

To learn more about purchasing the iSimulate as well as the benefits of software membership, visit the iSimulate.com.au website today!

Let’s start 2012 off with a bang with this AWESOME user-created manual for the Simman 3G from Kaiser Permanente’s California based simulation team Dr. Mark Meyer, MD FAAEM and Regional Simulation Coordinator and Technician Darin Bowers MA.

You can download the Kaiser Permanente user-created Laerdal Simman 3G manual here.

After praising KP’s team for their work, I asked Darin several questions about the manual:

Lance: What is this manual for?
Darin: This manual is a brief summary to the practical use of Sim Man 3G.  We have only included information that covers the basic start up and showdown of the system, as well as basic troubleshooting advice.

Lance: Why did your team create this manual?
Darin: We created this manual to go with the Train the Trainer course Dr Meyer and I teach at the 13 medical centers.  None of our sites have simulation technicians, so we train RNs and MDs in the use of the equipment.  Since they are already busy learning debriefing skills, plus their busy clinical schedules, we wanted to give them a simple and practical guide for using the equipment.

Lance: How has this healthcare simulation lab operations manual helped your simulation program?
Darin:  It has helped in giving simulation instructors a starting point  for the operation of the equipment, as well as a reference for use if I am not available via telephone for technical support.

Lance: Who uses this manual now?
Darin:  We give the full version of the manual to anyone conducting simulation within the southern California region of Kaiser Permanente.  We have also given copies to other regions within KP.

Lance: How long did this manual take to put together?
Darin: The full version of the manual, (which contains the other simulators used by KP), was definitely a work in progress.  Dr Mark Meyer and Jean Lilja, RN, created an indepth version several years ago.  When I came to Kaiser Permanente, I worked with Dr Meyer and we revised his older version.  One of my personal desires with the revision was more step-by-step instructions with screen shots to facilitate understanding.  Personally, I have probably spent about 40 hours on revisions and additions to the older manual.  Dr Meyer and I, see this manual as a work in progress and we add additional content yearly (sometimes even sooner).

Included in Kaiser Permanente’s operations manual are:

• Instructions on how to turn on and turn off the Laerdal Simman 3g
• Webcam setup
• Patient monitor initiation
• Directions on how to use the Simman 3G GUI (Generated User Interface) software
• Healthcare simulation manikin orientation guide
• Advanced patient monitor controls
• Complete Simman 3G parts list

You can download the Kaiser Permanente user-created Laerdal Simman 3G manual here.

Dr. Mark D. Meyer MD, FAAEM

Regional Sim Coordinator: Darin Bowers MA

Developing an operations manual for and by your simulation team will not only help to provide standardization to your program but also cut down on user-errors.  Operations manuals help to streamline productivity, increase learning speeds for new users, and help to prevent information  loss in the event of staff turnover.

“Lights – Camera – Simulation!”

Imagine having the help of a professional film production crew in your healthcare simulation lab.  Video orientations for students to your simulation lab space? eLearning for advanced students? Training videos for new educators? Promotional videos for external users and center marketing? All possible with the help and support of a professional multimedia team!

Craig Adams, Manager of Communications and Immersive Media at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, shared some of the wonderful productions his team has accomplished for the Innovation Lab at the Center for Simulation Technology and Immersive Learning.

Notice the expert use of steady framing, panning work and camera focus which always guides the audience’s attention smoothly for excellent scene composition.  As well, the wonderful pacing of the piece demonstrates a true understanding of editing flow and the importance of integrating musical scores.  Watch another great video which demonstrates the team’s “showcase reel”:

Thinking of producing your own videos? At the Gathering of Technicians event earlier this year, we trained 85 technicians in the basics of film production.  Next August I am sure we will repeat the training somehow, but in the mean time be sure to watch my “do it yourself” tutorial on the basics of video production for your sim lab.

EMS provided an excerpt from the white paper ”What is IT’s Role in Human Patient Simulation?”:

To request a copy of the white paper, click here.

“Human Patient Simulation has found an important place in nursing, medical, allied health, and EMT certification programs all around the world. Borrowing from lessons learned from simulation in the aviation sector, patient simulation calls for instructional methodologies that enable both student and mentor to evaluate decision processes and clinical skills during any given scenario.

As patient simulation technology matures, so do the methods and technologies used in its implementation. Human Patient Simulation is not just one device (the simulator), but includes a variety of technologies that have been adapted or combined in order to improve fidelity (realism), simulator control, learner assessment, research-based practice and ultimately, patient outcomes. Patient simulation technology must be seen as a system of components that have been selected to meet clearly defined instructional and/or assessment objectives. Information Technology’s (IT) involvement is critical to the successful implementation and maintenance of this technological system. However, many IT professionals are unnecessarily intimidated by this type of system.

Hospitals utilize patient simulation technology in much the same way that many academic programs do. Certainly, training objectives may differ since hospitals are utilizing the patient simulation technology to improve patient outcomes and reduce hospital staff errors. In spirit, academic programs are trying to do the same thing, but the primary objective in the academic setting is to give students hands-on experience with patients without actually putting a patient at risk. In both settings, assessment of the participants is an important component, so video is a critical tool in providing an objective ally.

Good simulation requires that learners are debriefed. In a recent unpublished poll of more than 10 simulation labs and centers, 100% saw that debriefing was critical to learner success. Of this group, over 90% relied on recorded video to debrief their learners. Recorded video enables the instructor to show objective evidence of a learner’s activity during a scenario. It also provides a platform for each member of the assessed team to see the “big picture.” Ultimately, the recorded video can become a baseline to show progress or decline of a learner’s skills throughout training. Video documentation plays an important role as ever-greater emphasis is placed on evidence-based practice, and the need increases for solid research on how simulation technologies impact the quality of care…”

Excerpted from the white paper ”What is IT’s Role in Human Patient Simulation?” Email EMS to request a copy of the white paper, click here.