The Power of Simulation Based Training

Maximizing the Potential of Simulation-Based Education

The cornerstone of our curriculum is simulation-based education - a powerful approach that allows trainees to test and hone their abilities in scenarios ranging from routine exams to medical emergencies. Our more than twenty training programs blend simulation with didactic education, case review and discussion, standardized patients, and other techniques and tools that reinforce key concepts while strengthening skills.

The Center’s 8,000-square-foot facility comprises more than 2,000 square feet of space dedicated to simulation-based training activities and research. Simulation labs replicate patient care settings such as an operating room, emergency room, intensive care unit, radiology suite, hospital patient room, cardiac catheterization lab, and ambulatory clinic.

Within our simulation facilities, as many as six patient simulators can be run simultaneously. The simulators may be controlled from the bedside for informal teaching or from the Center’s control room for full-scale, team-based simulations. The control room also includes video and audio production equipment and software to create materials for off-site learning. Our expert use of these technologies ensures that the educational potential of every one of our training activities is utilized to the fullest.

The Value of Medical Simulation

Medical simulation is the enactment, observation, and debriefing of a medical event used specifically to educate and improve a healthcare provider’s ability to handle critical situations. Numerous studies have established the effectiveness of simulation training in building clinical decision-making and communication skills. 

Today’s computer-controlled full-body patient simulators (also known as “high-fidelity” simulators) present realistic vital signs and respond appropriately to clinical interventions. The lifelike experiences provided by these simulators allow trainees to practice new skills—and make mistakes—without any risk to actual patients, further maximizing the experience of an authentic patient encounter.

Debriefing is arguably the most important step in simulation education. During these sessions, trainees have the opportunity to review their performance and reflect on what they would do differently in the future.