Measuring the success of your simulation program can be challenging. A critical part of this process is ensuring you gather the right data, which starts with selecting the appropriate audiovisual (AV) solution. When choosing an audiovisual solution for your simulation center, it is important to consider several key factors. This guide by Elevate Healthcare’s Solution Sales Consultant Melissa Lowther-Doyle, CHSOS-A, FSSH, provides a general needs analysis to help you identify the specific AV requirements that will best support your center’s operations and goals.
Steps for Conducting a Needs Analysis:
- Assess the Simulation Center’s Status:
- Determine if the center is a new or existing space.
- For existing spaces, identify if there are planned renovations or if the AV system will be retrofitted.
- Evaluate any existing AV equipment, considering its age, usage, and user feedback.
- Review the Allocated Space:
- Examine the total space designated for the simulation center, including square footage, floor plans, and as-built documentation.
- Conduct a Systematic Room Review:
- Identify the primary uses for each room type (e.g., exam rooms for OSCE activities, hospital rooms for emergency, intensive care, and operating room simulations, task training or flexible use spaces, nursing stations, medication rooms, hallways).
- Determine Simulation Modalities:
- Specify which simulation modalities will be used in each space (e.g., simulated patients, task trainers, simulators, AR/VR/XR technology, or a combination of these).
- Evaluate Viewing Access:
- Assess whether spaces have direct viewing access or if all viewing will be conducted remotely.
While physical AV equipment is a crucial component, pairing it with a software solution can centralize many operational functions, including AV control. LearningSpace is an ideal software solution for any size or type of simulation center. With three different software tiers, LearningSpace offers powerful benefits to all simulation centers, enhancing their operational efficiency and effectiveness.
LearningSpace is built on a solid audiovisual backbone that allows real-time observation, recording, and timestamped annotations with immediate playback ability making video-enhanced debriefing a reality. LearningSpace Experience offers this core set of features. Many centers need more than recording and debriefing functionality. As such, two additional software platforms build upon this offering.
LearningSpace Essentials elevates the audiovisual platform capabilities by introducing Simulation Center Management tools. These tools include modules for Student Assessment, Scheduling, and Scenario Authoring. The Student Assessment module features Pre-Encounter and Post-Encounter checklists, along with a Performance Checklist that enables faculty or facilitators to enter data in real-time or during video review. To adhere to best practice standards, LearningSpace Essentials also incorporates an Evaluation checklist, which centralizes learner feedback using tools like the Simulation Effectiveness Tool.
LearningSpace Enterprise is a comprehensive software platform designed to streamline and enhance the management of simulation centers. It offers a full suite of features that cater to various aspects of simulation center operations. The platform’s advanced scheduling capabilities, including Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) management, allow for precise planning and coordination of simulation activities, ensuring that all sessions run smoothly and efficiently. Additionally, LearningSpace Enterprise includes robust inventory and resource management tools, which help track and manage equipment and supplies, ensuring that everything is available when needed. The software also provides a powerful reporting system with both preset and customizable options, enabling users to generate detailed reports that meet their specific needs. These reports can offer valuable insights into usage patterns, performance metrics, and resource allocation, helping administrators make informed decisions to optimize their operations. Overall, LearningSpace Enterprise stands out as a versatile and user-friendly platform that supports the complex demands of simulation center management.
Selecting the right audiovisual (AV) solution for your simulation center involves careful consideration of various factors to ensure it meets your specific needs. By conducting a thorough needs analysis, you can identify the AV requirements that will best support your center’s operations and goals. LearningSpace offers a robust software solution that complements physical AV equipment, providing centralized control and enhancing operational efficiency. With its tiered offerings, LearningSpace caters to the diverse needs of simulation centers, from basic observation and debriefing to comprehensive management and reporting. By integrating LearningSpace into your simulation center, you can create an environment that fosters effective learning, streamlined operations, and improved educational outcomes.
