Global Medical Simulation News Update May 2024

Each month, HealthySimulation.com provides recaps of all the latest healthcare simulation industry news from around the world. This news includes clinical simulation learning opportunities, funding updates, acquisition information, innovation progress, and more. Together, these industry updates help paint a picture of where the global medical simulation industry is presently and where the industry is headed as the scope of clinical simulation practice expands. In this edition for May 2024, read about some of the world’s latest clinical simulation updates on the latest technology and partnership announcements, radiation safety training, wound care, burn care, conferences and speakers, faculty development, learner evaluation,VR simulation, patient safety, and simulation centers update, and more!

Pre-Conference Workshop | From Theory to Practice: Building Confidence in Pediatrics Procedures | SIMPACT : SIMPACT is AKU’s first-ever international conference dedicated to harnessing the power of simulation-based education for a safer, more skilled healthcare future from May 20th ​to 21st, 2024. ​We believe in fostering a vibrant community of simulation professionals – students, educators, experts, and industry leaders – united by a shared goal: advancing patient care and promoting patient safety.​​​

VMC Launches VR and Desktop Radiation Safety Training: Today marks a significant milestone in the field of medical education and radiation safety training. We are thrilled to announce the official launch of our innovative Radiation Safety Training Solution, now available in both Virtual Reality (VR) and Desktop formats. This launch follows a highly successful pilot study conducted with leading hospitals in Japan, proving the effectiveness and transformative potential of our training modules in real-world medical settings.

Check out New TraumaSIM Wound Packer: This unit is a critical training aid for any professional delivering lifesaving first aid training. Allowing students to train repeatedly and gain confidence and competence by using these durable, easy to use realistic units. Simply wash, allow to dry and store for repeat training. Various skin colours available, frequently purchased tones are held in stock, all other tones are manufactured to order.

Health care providers advance knowledge through simulation: The ultimate goal of all medical simulation is to improve patient care and patient outcomes. As part of its mission to train culturally competent physicians, the Central Michigan University College of Medicine oversees the Institute for Medical Simulation and maintains accredited facilities in Mt. Pleasant and Saginaw, including the Covenant HealthCare Simulation Center. They offer the most advanced technology including virtual reality simulation, high-fidelity manikins, clinical skills training, robotic surgery training, standardized patient and highly specialized scenarios.

Evaluation of Medical Students’ Satisfaction With Using a Simulation-Based Learning Program as a Method for Clinical Teaching: This cross-sectional analytical study aims to evaluate medical students’ awareness and satisfaction regarding the utilization of simulation-based learning (SBL) as a method for clinical teaching at King Saud University (KSU) over the past 12 months. KSU seeks to understand how such learning methods enhance students’ self-satisfaction and clinical skills, facilitate the application of learned knowledge, and assess the role of instructors in providing ample practice opportunities in the skills laboratory. Furthermore, the study aims to assess the satisfaction levels of students in both preclinical and clinical years regarding the time allocated for skills laboratory sessions and the integration of high-fidelity technology in simulation-based training programs at KSU.

Using Virtual Reality to Improve Communication and Collaboration in Nursing Teams: The nursing profession today is faced with a rising demand for care for an aging Baby Boomer population while simultaneously experiencing shortages related to a lack of educators, workforce geographic distribution, and high turnover. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) reports that nursing schools are struggling to expand capacity to meet these increasing demands.Nursing is a profession that requires not only technical skills, but also soft skills such as critical thinking, decision making, empathy, confidence, teamwork, and smooth communication. These skills are essential for collaborating with other healthcare professionals in providing safe and high-quality patient-centered care.

Effectiveness of Simulation-Based Training of Undergraduate Medical Students Regarding the Management of Eclampsia: A Randomized Controlled Educational Trial : Obstetric emergencies, like eclampsia, need a quick and accurate response from the treating physician coming into first contact with the patient. Therefore, all doctors, even primary care physicians, interns, and resident doctors, need training to handle such cases proficiently, leaving minimal chances of error. Providing training for the management of these critical conditions on actual patients is not practically feasible. Clinical simulation in obstetrics can be used for the improvement of these skills for undergraduate and postgraduate students. We conducted a non-blinded randomized controlled trial with the primary aim of developing and implementing a module for training undergraduate medical students on the assessment and management of eclampsia and to evaluate and compare with traditional didactic lectures or case-based learning.

Podcast SHE Season3Ch6 JennyRudolph Debriefing and Team Culture: In this podcast, Series 3, Chapter 6, Dr. Barsuk interviews Dr. Jenny Rudolph, Lecturer in Anesthesia and Senior Director, Innovation at the Center for Medical Simulation at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Rudolph received her doctorate in organizational behavior from Boston College, was a National Science Foundation Fellow, and studied system dynamics at MIT Sloan School of Management. They discuss Dr. Rudolph’s work in simulation, debriefing and team culture.

2024 ASPE Annual Conference Plenary Speaker Highlight #2: Meet the Speaker: Elaine Ávila, MFA Playwright/Professor Douglas College. A Fulbright Scholar, Creative Writing Professor, and internationally award-winning playwright, Elaine Ávila’s plays have premiered in over forty cities, from Los Angeles to Lisbon. She is the co-founder of the Climate Change Theatre Action, which now reaches 45,000 participants worldwide. Her plays are available from NoPassport Press and Talonbooks.

Next Month’s International Healthcare Simulation Congress in Argentina Looks to Impress: From 30th May to 1st of June 2024, Buenos Aires Argentina is set to become hosts of the International Congress on Health Simulation and the II International Symposium on Operations in Health Simulation. With the motto ‘Teamwork towards a better health system’ the congress invites clinical simulationists to participate in the International Congress in the City of Buenos Aires in Argentina. HealthySimulation.com is a proud media partner of the event, which will be represented by Columbia’s Universidad de la Sabana at Bogotá’s Dra. Catalina Vanegas Ortiz. This article by HealthySimulation.com contributor Erin Carn-Bennett, RN, MSN, provides an overview of the upcoming Latin-American Clinical Simulation Congress and recommends who should look to attend.

A Learning Health System to Generate and Accelerate Innovation: The HealthPartners Institute: The HealthPartners Institute is a research and education division embedded within HealthPartners — a nonprofit, member-governed integrated health system. The Institute aims to generate and accelerate innovation for the HealthPartners health system, patients and members, and the communities served. This has taken a formal, organized approach to building the necessary capabilities, infrastructures, relationships, and tools to do so. This article outlines an innovative approach by which the HealthPartners Institute created an environment conducive to accelerated system performance.

Training simulator efficacy in developing thoracic and general surgical skills in a residency programme: a pilot study: Virtual training simulators have been introduced in several surgical disciplines to improve residents’ abilities. Through the use of the LapSim virtual training simulator (Surgical Science, Göteborg, Sweden), this study aims to plan an effective learning path in minimally invasive thoracic and general surgery.All thoracic and general surgery trainees in their 1st and 2nd year of residency at the University of Insubria were enrolled and randomized into 2 groups: residents undergoing an intensive twice-a-week virtual training programme (group A: n = 8) and those undergoing a once-weekly non-intensive virtual training programme (group B: n = 9). The virtual training programme was divided into 4 modules, each of 12 weeks. In the 1st module, trainees repeated grasping, cutting, clip application, lifting and grasping, and fine dissection exercises during each training session. Seal-and-cut exercise was performed as the initial and final test. Data on surgical maneuvers (time and on mistakes) were collected; intra- and inter-group comparisons were planned.

The University Impact Forum: Health & Well-being 2024: The University Impact Forum: Health & Well-being 2024 will focus on SDG 3 for good health and well-being, and the role that universities play in researching key diseases and conditions, supporting healthcare professions and looking after the health of students and staff. The free of charge forum will explore innovations, strategies, healthcare simulation, and practical ways of promoting good health and well-being in a higher education setting, as well as highlight and celebrate the vital role that universities play in addressing key global health challenges. University leaders, policymakers and other stakeholders across higher education and healthcare will convene to discuss: Trends and challenges in medical and health sciences higher education Mental health challenges and solutions in higher education Integrating health and well-being into the campus and beyond Innovations in women’s health

The Impact of the Simulation Debriefing Process on Learning Outcomes – An Umbrella Review Protocol: Over the past decade, organizations have written and adapted standards to help educators debrief simulation-based experiences. The Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best PracticeTM emphasize the significance of a debriefing process to create an environment of safe learning. However, a current gap in the literature exists regarding the impact of incorporating the vital element of debriefing upon learning outcomes in the simulation environment. This umbrella review protocol outlines the identification, critical appraisal, and synthesis of the impact of the debriefing process upon healthcare learners’ knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors.

Hip Arthroscopy Simulator Training With Immersive Virtual Reality Has Similar Effectiveness to Nonimmersive Virtual Reality: Fourteen orthopaedic surgery residents were randomized to simulation training utilizing an iVR Hip Arthroscopy Simulator (n = 7; PrecisionOS) or non-iVR simulator (n = 7; ArthroS Hip VR; VirtaMed). After training, performance was assessed on a cadaver by 4 expert hip arthroscopists through arthroscopic video review of a diagnostic hip arthroscopy. Performance was assessed using the Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills (OSATS) and Arthroscopic Surgery Skill Evaluation Tool (ASSET) scores. A cost analysis was performed using the transfer effectiveness ratio (TER) and a direct cost comparison of iVR to non-iVR.

Las Vegas Simulation Group VR MeetUp Recap (Featured Image): The Las Vegas Simulation Group has been meeting quarterly for just over a year, and multiple members of the group have shown an interest in technology. Due to budget cuts and time constraints, not all simulation staff can attend events such as Sim Ops, SimGhost, or IMSH. The concept of collaboration and learning together sparked the idea to gather a dozen VR vendors together following the meeting to provide an opportunity to get hands-on time with the products for simulation education. Each vendor was able to showcase the technical features of the platform and listen to the needs of the participants, having face-to-face time provided a better understanding of which products may fit best into each program. The Southern Nevada VA in Las Vegas also provided their staff the opportunity to engage with the technology. Staff attended from multiple areas within the hospital to include Emergency Management, Radiology, Quality/Patient Safety, Mental Health, Nursing Education, Physician Hospitalists, and Pain Management. The goal of VR Day was to evaluate the Virtual Reality and AI development in healthcare training and simulation. Together, we are not just imagining the future of healthcare—we are building it. Looking to participate in the next Vegas meetup? Please email Bonnie Barti.

NHET-Sim Programme Updates – May 2024: There are two online workshops coming up in June and July. In June, we have Module C2: Being a simulation educator workshop offered via Zoom – Registration will close on 31 May 2024, close of business. We also have Module S9 (Debriefing in simulation) in July, with registration closing on 28 June 2024, close of business Included in all workshop registration fee is 4 months access to all our 14 e-learning modules (new activations and re-activations/extensions). NHET-Sim Programme completion is a pathway for further study in simulation-based experiences (SBE)..

The Evolving Role of Vitreosurgical Simulators in Surgical Training: Embarking on the journey of surgical education is a formidable task that demands a solid theoretical foundation, dedicated time and hands-on practice. Over the centuries, we have witnessed a remarkable evolution in surgical education, transitioning from the master-apprenticeship model toward more complex, innovative and technological educational methods. The traditional master-apprenticeship model for surgical training involves the gradual transmission of knowledge from master mentors to apprentices. However, the current medical scenario, characterized by a diminished tolerance for errors and pressure for clinical productivity, has led to optimisation of the training of novice surgeons. Consequently, the traditional training relationship has become more challenging in today’s academic health care.

Nursing students’ perspectives on the operator portraying the patient in simulation: The simulation operator plays an important role in portraying the patient when using high-fidelity simulators. However, knowledge of the simulation operator’s pedagogical role in simulation scenarios, from the perspective of nursing students, is limited. The study was conducted at a university in Norway. An exploratory, descriptive design with a qualitative approach was employed. Participants comprised 34 nursing students. Data were collected via focus groups and analyzed using qualitative content analysis.

Advancements in Surgical Education: Exploring Animal and Simulation Models in Fetal and Neonatal Surgery Training: The use of animal models in surgical training has a long history, dating back to Halsted’s introduction in 1889. These models, often utilizing large animals like swine and dogs, offer valuable insights into fetal and neonatal surgeries. They allow for the study of long-term outcomes and the simulation of various diseases and anomalies, providing essential training experiences not readily available in human surgeries. However, there are notable limitations, including anatomical and physiological differences from humans, ethical considerations, and substantial infrastructure and maintenance costs. Simulation-based training offers several benefits, including standardized and safe learning environments without risks to real patients.

A Systematic Review of Simulation in Burn Care: Education, Assessment, and Management: Assessment and management of burns require nuanced, timely interventions in high-stake settings, creating challenges for trainees. Simulation-based education has become increasingly popular in surgical and nonsurgical subspecialties to supplement training without compromising patient safety. This study aimed to systematically review the literature on existing burn management-related simulations. A systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.

Simulation-based training program improves evaluation of undescended testicles: Could a lifelike manikin torso help improve pediatricians’ understanding of undescended testicles? That’s the hope of Eric Bortnick, MD, a fellow in Boston Children’s Department of Urology whose new simulation- and video-based educational tool aims to improve the diagnosis and management of this condition.Also known as cryptorchidism, undescended testicles are common congenital anomalies in which one or more of a baby’s testicles have not moved into the proper position. Prompt diagnosis through a thorough physical exam, typically followed by surgery, can help prevent future complications, such as fertility issues, hormonal problems, and testicular cancer.

Mistakes are welcome in SIMU…as long as you learn from them: The Simulation Centre of the Faculty of Medicine of Masaryk University is the most up-to-date simulation centre in Central Europe.The Simulation Centre is equipped like a real hospital. There is a heliport on the roof, operating theatres on the clinical floor, intensive care units, medical devices and simulators. But that´s not what SIMU is about. SIMU is mainly about the possibilities of trying and experiencing all medical procedures first-hand. From the simplest to the most complex ones. There is no other place where you could train everything without jeopardizing the life of patients. SIMU is where mistakes are welcome as long as you learn from them.

Flying Blind—Embracing Aviation-Style Safety and Training Measures in Health Care | Opinion: When disaster strikes in the skies, the world takes notice. The recent incident of a door panel detaching mid-flight garnered widespread attention, sparking urgent investigations and calls for preventative measures. Yet, amid the clamor for aviation safety, a more devastating crisis persists in our health care system, claiming the lives of over 250,000 patients annually due to preventable medical errors. These tragedies often go unnoticed, accepted as part of the grim reality of American health care. But what if they didn’t have to be? What if we refused to accept such losses as routine? Rather than acceptance, we need to apply the same level of urgency and pursue the same level of innovation to safety in health care as we do to safety in other industries like aviation, where this level of risk would be completely unacceptable. From fundamental nursing to ongoing reinforcement of safety and on-the-job education and training, there is an opportunity for change to better support our nurses.

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About the Author: Erin Carn Bennett

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Erin Carn-Bennett is a Simulation Nurse Educator for the Douglas Starship Simulation Programme in Auckland, New Zealand. Carn-Bennett has a Master of Nursing and has an extensive nursing career within pediatric emergency and also nursing management. She is passionate about debriefing and all psychologically safe simulation delivery. Carn-Bennett is a member of the IPSS board of directors. Carn-Bennett is the lead host of the podcast Sim Nurse NZ and co-host of IPSS The Podcast. Erin is the Nursing Director of the company Med Sim Solutions.