A simulated teaching package that focuses on helping undergraduate medical students to improve their ability to conduct arterial blood gas (ABG) testing has been developed by a team at the Bath Academy in the U.K. This simulated teaching package is expected to advance the competence and confidence levels of Bristol university medical school undergrads to perform these important blood tests.

Arterial blood gases (ABGs) testing is often required in testing sick patients to help diagnose the severity of a condition and assist in assessing treatment. We've learned in highschool that as blood passes through our lungs, oxygen moves into the blood and carbon dioxide moves out of the blood and into the lungs. What an ABG test does is check how well the lungs are able to carry oxygen into the blood and remove carbon dioxide from the blood. The test uses blood drawn from an artery to measure its oxygen and carbon dioxide levels before they enter body tissue.

The Bath Academy, which trains the medical students at the Royal United Hospital, hopes the simulated teaching package will help to improve positive patient outcomes and gain valuable experience for the medical students. For more information, click here>>

With more than 600,000 performed in the United States each year, hysterectomies are the most commonly administered gynecological surgical procedures. Most hysterectomies have traditionally been performed via traditional, "open" abdominal surgery – but over the past decade, the number performed via minimally invasive surgery has increased substantially. In fact, many healthcare facilities now perform more minimally invasive hysterectomies than open ones.

Commonly used in orthopedic surgery, thoracic surgery, urology, gastrointestinal surgery, and even heart surgery, minimally invasive surgery is also a good choice for many women facing gynecological surgery and hysterectomy. Studies have found that a woman who has undergone a hysterectomy via minimally invasive surgery can expect a significantly shorter hospital stay than one who opted for abdominal surgery – in one study, the length averaged about 1.6 days, versus 3.9 days.

Another advantage: fewer incisions and faster time to heal. A hysterectomy via minimally invasive surgery requires just a few 8- to 12-millimeter incisions, as opposed to traditional hysterectomy, which requires a 6- to 10-inch incision across the abdomen. Fewer, smaller incisions equate to reduced scarring and pain; reduced hemorrhaging and less possible need for blood transfusions following the hysterectomy; and reduced risk of infection as the patient isn't exposed as much or as long as she is during a traditional hysterectomy.

Hysterectomy is a major procedure which renders the patient unable to bear children. As such, the surgery is only recommended when other options for treatment are unavailable. Reasons for recommendation may include a diagnosis of cancer, the discovery of tumors, or chronic pelvic pain. In all cases, it's essential that the surgeon understands the patient's needs, ensuring an exceptional level of care delivery.

It's also necessary that surgeons performing hysterectomies via minimally invasive surgery have mastered an array of high-level, up-to-date skills, including the use of special tools and instruments; proper posture; efficient hand and arm movement; and manual dexterity. And because the patient's internal organs and tissue are viewed via a video screen, the surgeon must develop a range of hand-eye coordination specific to monitoring the surgery while using unique, state-of-the-art surgical equipment.

All these skills can be learned with the use of a virtual reality (VR) simulator for minimally invasive surgery. Education is key to success: simulation offers surgeons a safe environment in which to practice, learn from their mistakes, and most importantly, perform actual hysterectomies with minimal complications and a great deal of confidence. With one in three women undergoing a hysterectomy by age 65, it's absolutely essential that their surgeons are qualified and competent.

Presented by Richard Pizzi, AIA, VP, and healthcare design principal for Lavallee Brensinger Architects.

We had a great response to today's webinar. Feel free to post your questions/comments for Richard in the comments box below.

Abstract: This interactive webinar will explore the planning, programming, and design of clinical simulation centers. We will discuss a collaborative and inclusive process to define your goals and create a space program that accommodates all simulation activities. The webinar will discuss the design of flexible, multi-functional simulation labs and the spatial relationships between labs and support space. The webinar will also review the integration of simulation, AV, and medical equipment as well as lessons learned and current/future trends from active simulation centers.

Richard Pizzi, AIA, VP, is a healthcare design principal for Lavallee Brensinger Architects regional healthcare design firm. Rich has specialized in healthcare design for nearly 19 years. For the past 6 years, he has focused on the research, programming, and design of clinical simulation centers. During this time, Rich has programmed and designed clinical simulation centers for large academic medical centers, community hospitals, medical schools, and nursing schools. His efforts have also included first-hand training observations, site visits, and post-occupancy reviews. Rich is a member of the Society for Simulation in Healthcare.

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — A training tool developed locally will help future doctors and medical personnel save lives during childbirth.

C-Celia is a one-of-a-kind, lifelike “manikin” used to teach students at the Drexel University College of Medicine to perform caesarean sections before seeing a real patient.

Dr. Owen Montgomery, chair of the department of obstetrics and gynecology, says the device allows a surgery resident “to actually do a caesarean using a knife and cutting through tissue and delivering a baby, just as if it was happening in the real world.  Simulation allows us to put residents in situations where they need to prepare for the future.”

Second-year resident Roxanna Irani said it was like doing the surgery for real.

“It was kind of a fun surprise to get a scalpel and, rather than be saying, ‘Okay I’m going to cut into the abdomen,’ to actually get to do it,” she said.

The damaged parts are repaired or replaced, and C-Celia is ready for the next procedure.

Source.

Training healthcare providers to be able to respond to any situation they might find themselves in is crucial to their development as healthcare professionals. With recent advancement in the use of technology, simulation training provides an excellent (and safe) learning environment in the curriculum of students as well as for ongoing training for current healthcare professionals.

While hands-on learning with real patients cannot be completely replaced, simulation training provides a safe environment for learning. Making mistakes can be a valuable part of the learning process. In the simulation environment, patients at not put at risk.

According to the Society for Simulation in Healthcare, simulation training is “the imitation or representation of one act or system by another” and serves as “a bridge between classroom learning and real-life clinical experience.” No longer must students practice giving injections by using an orange or budding surgeons practice suturing by using a piece of felt.

Healthcare is catching up to other industries in using scenario based training. For instance, aviation has been a long-time user of simulation training for pilots. In fact, the first known flight ‘simulator’ was the Antoinette Trainer developed in 1909. Rudimentary by today’s standard, the simulator consisted of a “half-barrel mounted on a universal joint, with flight controls, pulleys, and stub-wings.” Over time, the setup became more advanced. Beginning in the 1950’s, technology was introduced to aviation simulation. By the 1980‘s, it was much more integrated. Today, many aviation simulators are so advanced, it would be tough to tell them apart from the real thing.

Aviation knew the importance of training pilots in situations where they could “achieve, test, and maintain proficiency in the operation of an airplane without risk to person or property and at a lower cost to training in the air” (Aviation WikiJournal).

More.

New Whitepaper: "Innovative Technology Allows Regional Medical Campus to Educate Tomorrow's Top Physicians"

[Excerpted from the whitepaper]

A regional medical campus can be an effective method for medical schools to grow in size while successfully addressing such challenges as meeting accreditation standards, upholding local and state laws, lowering financial costs, and providing high-quality clinical practice opportunities for students. One example and success story of these principles is St. Luke's University Health Network, which acted in conjunction with Temple University School of Medicine to meet and satisfy the need for more undergraduate medical students.

"As a medical school, we needed to have an AV system to record our simulation sessions," says Joshua Onia, Simulation/Standardized Patient Director. "We also needed a solution to keep track of how we are meeting our accreditation standards and manage the operations of our sim center..."

Click here to request the whitepaper.

Sign up now!

"Smart, Creative Planning for Flexible
Clinical Simulation Centers"

Presented by:
Richard Pizzi, AIA
Vice President, Partner 
Lavallee Brensinger Architects

Abstract: This interactive webinar will explore the planning, programming, and design of clinical simulation centers. We will discuss a collaborative and inclusive process to define your goals and create a space program that accommodates all simulation activities. The webinar will discuss the design of flexible, multi-functional simulation labs and the spatial relationships between labs and support space. The webinar will also review the integration of simulation, AV, and medical equipment as well as lessons learned and current/future trends from active simulation centers.

Richard Pizzi, AIA, VP, is a healthcare design principal for Lavallee Brensinger Architects regional healthcare design firm. Rich has specialized in healthcare design for nearly 19 years. For the past 6 years, he has focused on the research, programming, and design of clinical simulation centers. During this time, Rich has programmed and designed clinical simulation centers for large academic medical centers, community hospitals, medical schools, and nursing schools. His efforts have also included first-hand training observations, site visits, and post-occupancy reviews. Rich is a member of the Society for Simulation in Healthcare.

Hosted by: 
Education Management Solutions (EMS) 
www.EMS-works.com

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

2:00 pm EDT
(1:00 pm CDT; 12 Noon MDT; 11:00 am PDT)

Webinars are one hour in length.

Space is limited!

Click here to register for this FREE Webinar!