Hi Sim Champs!

Just got an email from a simulation user  looking to operate a ventilator in their simulations.  At the Clinical Simulation Center of Las Vegas we used a refurbished ventilator to add props to the sceneray but it was never very successful for creating realistic chest rise and fall.  We were able to disable the warning alarms to make it so that the scenario could play out but we would have liked a more realistic solution.

Do you have a ventilator that works well for your medical simulation program?  If so, drop me an email and tell me about it !

Did you know you can quickly and dramatically increase realism to your medical simulation program through the addition of a voice-changer? Consider the benefits of transforming the sound of a facilitator’s voice into the age and gender of the patient they are simulating.

Imagine creating a more realistic patient presentation for your medical simulation learners by changing an adult male clinical instructor’s voice into that of a child’s for your pediatrics cases, or even morphing a female educator’s voice into that of an elderly adult male patient for your geriatrics cases!

I have done several hours of research and testing to find the best software and hardware based voice changing solutions for your medical simulation labs.  Read on to learn more… Read the rest of this entry »

During an email list-serv conversation for the Gathering of Healthcare Simulation Technology Specialists, I noticed James Cypert from CalBaptist had an insightful response when a fellow GHOSTS subscriber asked the community:

“I am in the process of hiring a simulation technician and was wondering if other centers had any novel techniques (i.e. diagnose a broken task trainer) for interviewing/ screening candidates and their aptitude for work in this field?”

James’ response starts below:

I do not have a novel way per se. But I do have a recommendation that may benefit everyone. In a discussion with some of the local facilities in the area, and my introduction to them stimulated some discussion in this very area. Apparently, many people have been having discussions about whether technicians should have a strong medical background, (EMT, etc.), or should they have a strong technical background. (Continue reading by clicking the “Read more” link below.)

Read the rest of this entry »

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!

The Food and Drug Associate used a Manikin used to demonstrate medical device error.  The pictures provide great detailed are so well done I thought it might give you ideas for your medical simulation and skills lab courses!  Photos like this can help learners, faculty or staff remember key details for manikin setups.  Thanks to Crystal Mendez from St. Philip’s College in San Antonio Texas for the link.

EVENT: Oxygen tubing erroneously connected to a needleless IV port

POTENTIAL FOR HARM: High

CASE STUDY

• A patient’s oxygen tubing became disconnected from his nebulizer and was accidentally reattached to his IV tubing Y-site by a staff member who was completing a double shift
• The patient died from an air embolism, even though the connection was broken within seconds

THE JOINT COMMISSION SAFETY TIP: Identify and manage conditions and practices that may contribute to healthcare worker fatigue, and take appropriate action

Check out the complete FDA medical error page for more examples.

Check out some of these “before” and “after” shots from the sim control stations at the Clinical Simulation Center of Las Vegas.  The staff and I spent about 2 hours cleaning up all the cords by first pulling as much cord length down and off the desks as possible, and then wrapping up the loose ends underneath with Velcro ties.

Not only did this increase workspace but also made the control room look a lot more professional!  Share your “before” and “after” pix by leaving a comment below!

Ryan Eling, Operations Manager and Simulation Specialist from the University of New England Clinical Simulation Program has posted the first video for the GHOSTS 2012 “DIY Video Contest” for his “FAKE-A-SCOPE”! Check out this amazing video to learn how to make an affordable “Fake-A-Scope” for your sim lab!

Kam McCowan’s idea for the “DIY Video Contest” was to bring the simulation technician community closer together by providing techs an opportunity to share how they increased efficiency or realism in their medical simulation labs.  And remember, the 2012 “Gathering of Healthcare Simulation Technology Specialists” group is also putting together some amazing prizes for the best DIY videos – so consider sharing what made your lab more efficient or more realistic today!

If you are looking for help with learning how to make a short video, check out my 2-part Medical Simulation Video Production Tutorial!

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 »

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!