The Kansas State Board of Nursing has a free library of simulation scenarios designed by nursing faculty for nursing and allied health programs.  Free scenarios currently for simulation in healthcare currently include:

• GI Bleed or “Blood & Guts”
• “It’s all in the Head” Meti-meningitis/seizure
• Femur Fracture with Pulmonary Embolism
• Ischemic Stroke with Increased ICP
• IV – IV Medication Review
• Head Injury Scenario – 2 Parts
• Head Injury / Heart Failure Scenario
• Code Pink Simulation
• Air Leak Syndrome With Infant
• Code Pink With Meconium Simulation
• Respiratory Therapy Code Pink Simulation
• Simulation of Pediatric Diabetic Patient
• Placenta Previa – Remediation
• Pre-scenario Worksheet and List of 14 Scenarios
• Skills Check-off Scenario
• Basic Medical / Surgical Nursing
• Intermediate / Complex – 2 Medical / Surgical Scenarios 2 Sessions Each

Be sure to consider submitting your scenario to help build their scenario library.  Also, check out my previous article on where to get free simulation scenarios!

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 !

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!

>

Take the tour of the new Gaumard Noelle 554.100!

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…

Before purchasing a voice changing solution for your medical simulation program, you must be sure to investigate the current capabilities of your lab’s technology.  Will you be able to utilize the software solution recommended below, or will the technological specifications of your current video capture systems require you to use the hardware solution.

For example, at the Clinical Simulation Center of Las Vegas we had hard-lined XLR based microphones which ran straight to the “audio inputs” for our recording/debriefing software.  In order to use a software solution we would have needed to purchase an additional laptop for each of the five control room stations as well as a mixer to convert the XLR signals to & from the computer.  Instead, purchasing a hardware solution was as easy and pulling out the microphone XLR from the wall, plugging it into the input side of the new system, and then running another XLR audio-outbound cable back into the debriefing systems audio-input.

On the other hand, if your sim lab has the microphone going directly into your recording system, the software solution below may be your best bet!  Either way, please consider your technology needs before making a purchase.  If you are not sure, have a healthcare simulation technology specialist, IT specialist or your lab’s A/V integrator help you recommend the best route to take. Then, check out these solutions below:

 Screaming Bee – MorphVOX Pro Voice Changer Software Solution ($39.95):

MorphVox Pro is a great solution for voice-changing in your medical simulation lab.  Screaming Bee sells their software for about $40, and provides hundreds of free pre- designed “add-on” voices that can be used with the full program. Some of the content packs like “Personality Voices” were perfect for immediately starting to transform facilitator voices in your simulation lab.  If you have a bit of time to get creative, you can customize and edit the free addons and save those filter settings for future use. In other words you can change the pitch, tone and delay as well as other key controls to modify the outputted voice for your exact patient needs.  Then, save the voices onto specific hotkeys to make switching between voices quick and efficient.  I was successfully able to utilize this software on a PC to make my voice sound like a child’s voice, a female’s voice, and an elderly male’s voice among others.

As well, you can also record your voice onto a saved file and then apply filters to that file at a later date in-order to save time.  For instance, say you had five different patients for your clinical skills learners to all engage with who all needed to have the same speech but were different characters.  With MorphVox Pro you could make one recording and then export that audio file with five different filters to create five very differently sounding patients.

To hear an example download these files I recorded through the MorphVox Pro software.  First play the audio file called “original” and then listen to the various voice “applied filters” with character names created by Screaming Bee.  Take note that I did NOT re-record this audio file but rather applied and rendered various “voice” filters to the original sound file.  What this means is that none of the tone changes or character inflictions you may hear in the changed voice files are of my doing, but rather all effects of the software itself. Just imagine how realistic your patient simulators will sound with even the most minimal amount of “character presentation” by your clinical educators or healthcare simulation staff.  Pretty remarkable if you ask me!

The pros of the MorphVox Pro healthcare simulation lab voice-changing software are many.  First, you can download a “junior version” of the software to try out some basic voice-changing for your simulation lab for FREE.  Second, the MorphVox software is really affordable considering all the additional benefits it will bring your simulation program (not to mention the cost of the hardware solution found below). Third, hundreds of voices are provided for free which are each customizable for your exact needs.  And finally, MorphVox Pro is really easy to install and learn on your PC desktop or laptop.  Furthermore, the software has a loop “background” noise option which could potentially be used to add environment sounds to your lab.

The cons of the MorphVox Pro software is that it only works on a Windows based operating system.  And again as I said above, if your simulation lab is using only hardware for its audio solution – you would have to invest in a laptop.

The Voice Box from Electro-Harmonix Voice-Changing Hardware Solution ($220):

The Clinical Simulation Center of Las Vegas loved the Voice Box from ElectroHarmonix so much we bought one unit for every one of the five high-fidelity simulation lab rooms.  Clinical instructors really appreciated how they could easily change the sound of their voice to reflect opposite genders or ages more closely aligned with that of the patient being presented in the medical simulation lab room.

Installation was easy as all we had to do with take our microphone XLR cord and plug it into the input side of the device.  From there we ran another cable from the output side of the voice-changing box to our inputs for the lab’s audio speakers and recording systems.  Changing the tone from a deep voice to a high-pitched voice was as simple as rotating the knobs for “gender” and “voice mix” with all other knobs left and full-left, while selecting the mode of “Low-” or “High-” Harmony.  Of course, playing around with the settings on the voice box will lead to your best results.  Turning off the voice-changer is as simple as bypassing any changes on the box by pushing the “mic bypass” button.

The pro’s of this hardware solution include:

• High Quality.  Successfully integrating this box into your lab’s systems will create a very professional sound.
• Durable design.  These types of voice-changing boxes are intended for use by bands which will have them on stage near their feet.
• Immediate voice changing capabilities without having to install, load or learn software.
• Capable of working with almost any microphone regardless of your audio/video recording system or operating system software.

The cons are the increased price difference from the software solution of course and also the lack of any pre-designed “voices” which come with the software solution mentioned above.  As well, there is no way to record your voice and change it later without other systems in place.

I recommend buying the Voice Box through Amazon because of the 25% discount. And don’t forget you may need to buy an additional XLR cable to make this system work.

Final thoughts: 

Better healthcare simulation learning can stem from a more authentic and realistic patient engagement. During my fire academy, we could only pretend the building was on fire for so long before we actually had to start a real live fire to practice our drills on.  Thus, the closer your simulated healthcare environment is to the real healthcare environment the better your learning outcomes will be. By investing in some additional infrastructure you can quickly and dramatically increase the realism of your medical simulation labs.

As for which solution to go with, I would first recommend exploring the voice-changing software solution if your labs already utilize a computer for audio capture. You can always download the free trial version of the MorphVox Pro (called MorphVox Junior) and try it on your systems to ensure compatibility. But even with the additional costs involved, know that the Voice Box hardware is also a great solution for changing your simulated patient voice.

Check out the comments below for answers to technical questions and other recommendations.

—————-

Do you have another solution worth exploring?  Email Lance and let him know!

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!

At IMSH 2012 I had a chance to talk with Jeff from Med World Live about their web-based online streaming platforms.  What is unique about Med World Live is the ability for your end-users to control their camera perspective in real-time for enhanced learning, from anywhere in the world.

Features unique to the Med World Live online video platform include:

• Multiple camera angles
• Simultaneous live feeds
• End-user controlled experience

• Providing the Medical Community a new and innovative way to showcase products to the world.
• We are changing the way simulation centers and teaching institutions utilize the web for teaching by creating a customized interactive portal that houses pertinent teaching information and streams it directly to the end users.
• Allowing students to learn remotely
• Showcase and BRAND pertinent teaching tools
• Film training videos and save money on T&E
• Increase MD product competency

Learn more today by visiting the MedWorldLive website!

Kristin S Kristjansdottir from the Society in Europe for Simulation Applied to Medicine (SESAM) passed along this note from Stine Gundrosen (Medisinsk SimulatorSenter) to HealthySimulation.com to let us know about the “Instructor Conference” taking place May in Stockholm:

Hello NTS-friends,

Utilizing a controller and virtual reality helmet while engaging in a customizable scenario, combat veteran’s can work through traumatic events in a controlled and safe environment.  The technology is already being used by therapists and soldiers in over 65 locations around the World.  Visit ICT’s website to learn more!

Dear Colleagues,

“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.)

I informed them that the entire debate seemed to be missing the target entirely. We are not in the medical industry or the technical industry, we are in the education industry. I would not hire an EMT just because they had medical experience, nor would I hire a computer technician. I would seek out someone who has an education background, and does not look at you confused when you speak of pedagogy. Preferably an individual who like me has spent years learning technology or experience with it, and has instructed others in its use.

You do not want to hire a glorified IT computer technician. Most do not have the personality traits required for the task. I know this personally because I have been training computer technicians for the last 20 years. I would also not say that medical experience automatically qualifies you either.

If I were in need of hiring a simulation technician right now this is how I would approach it.

First I would search out and recruit from a pool of technicians that also had experience as instructors in the technical industry. I would treat my interview much like I would for a faculty. I would simply tell the candidates to prepare a 15 minute lesson plan and presentation explaining some technical thing. Perhaps something as simple as using the mouse, or keyboard shortcuts, or explain how the internet works, or networking. The individual that can explain those things in a coherent and understandable way will be your best candidate.

The reason for this approach is two fold. First you will know the individual can assimilate technical instructions, and will have a deeper understanding of technology. You also know that they will be able to communicate well with you faculty and will be able to train them effectively, while also understanding what education is about.

In my opinion you do not need a computer geek, mostly because most computer geeks are socially awkward and have difficulty with interpersonal relationships. You do not need a person from the medical industry because they many times conflict with faculty on the medical side. You do need a person with a comprehensive understanding of education and technology. This is typically only found in technical instructors, who are computer geeks that have a strong ability in interpersonal communication, as well as the dynamics of education and appropriate pedagogy.

Hiring in this way allows faculty to be the content experts, and for the technician to be the technology and delivery expert. On a personal note I was hired two years ago at California Baptist University School of Nursing. I have no medical background, but I have a Bachelor’s in Information Technology, and am considered a computer geek. The difference with me is that I was also a Technology Instructor for 20 years, and I know how to communicate complicated information to others.

I would seek out the following types of individuals

• High interpersonal relationship skills
• High technical knowledge and skills
• Education industry background (technical trainer, technical writer)
• Alternatively you could seek out a person who experience as a Systems Analyst, mostly because they have experience communicating highly technical information to stakeholders. So part of their job is as a liason between IT and decision makers who have no technical background.
• Ask questions that are pertinent to technology expertise and depth, there ability to communicate, and their ability to learn and teach others.

I hope this helps and does not offend anyone. Deogratias.”

James Cypert A+, N+, i-Net+, MCP, MCSE, MOUS
Technical Director
California Baptist University School of Nursing