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The new $5
million medical and surgical simulation training centre located at the Johns
Hopkins Outpatient Center in East Baltimor, which opened in March, has some very
unique new staff members - robots.
The 'sim' centre contains two fully operational ORs, two intensive care units
(ICUs), high-fidelity computerized mannequins that mimic physiologic and
behavioural response to procedures, and 12 examination rooms where students
practice routine exams on actors posing as patients with particular complaints
and symptoms.
The mannequins have breath sounds and heart tones, palpable pulses, and a
monitor that displays vital signs as students, physicians, nurses and other
healthcare professionals practice everything from bag-mask ventilation,
intubation, and defibrillation to chest tube placement and endoscopies. Computer
programs test decision-making skills and knowledge on topics such as advanced
cardiac life support and trauma management.
"The idea is to get it right before they treat real patients," said Elizabeth
Hunt, Assistant Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care
Medicine and the Centre's Director.
(Ref: The
Modern Medicare June 2008)
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