Simulation Center
Medical Simulation; ensures Provider Competency, Reduces Medical Errors, Improves Patient Safety, and Reduces Healthcare costs.
WPMC Medical Simulation Center (MSC) – Background, Vision and Mission
The opening of the MSC at the 88th Medical Group at the Wright Patterson Medical Center in Jan 2008 coincided with the standup of the Air Force Medical and Modeling and Simulation Training Program Office (AFMMAST). AFMMAST, housed at Joint Base San Antonio, was formed to direct, fund and support Medical Simulation Programs across over 80 Air Force sites.
The MSC supports the USAF Surgeon General’s vision for “Enhanced Medical Training Through Readiness Application, Patient Safety and Multidisciplinary Training Platforms”. In addition the overall mission of the 88th Medical Group to “Train-Teach-Treat” is no better demonstrated than by the work of this center. By coupling the integration of a variety of realistic and evidence research based training programs taught by subject matter experts with the center’s comprehensive array of technologically advanced equipment, our skilled simulation operators make this center hum with activity and productivity.
What is Medical Simulation?
Simulation is a training and feedback method in which learners practice tasks and processes in lifelike circumstances using high and low fidelity simulators, live models or virtual reality, with feedback from observers, peers, actor-patients, and video cameras to assist improvement in skills.
Computer-based medical simulation provides a realistic and economical set of tools to improve and maintain the skills of health care providers adding a valuable dimension to medical training similar to professional training to maintain comprehensive medical skills and military readiness. Medical simulators allow individuals to review and practice procedures as often as required to reach proficiency without risk of harm to a patient. Most importantly simulation allows assessment and treatment of various low volume but life threatening situations (i.e battle related traumas, complicated birth issues, etc.) which are not often encountered in normal clinic operations.
In medicine, sophisticated mannequins, known as patient simulators provide health care professionals with a computer-based patient that breathes, responds to drugs, talks, and drives all clinical monitors in the operating room, e.g., blood pressure and pulse rate. Task trainers provide a simulated subset of functionality, such as how to give an intraosseous injection or to insert a chest tube. Computer-based training provides software programs that train and assess clinical knowledge and decision-making skills.
Simulated/standardized patients allow students to interact with actors trained to act as patients providing students with valuable feedback on, among other things, bedside manner and trusted care principles. Medical simulation is a cross-disciplinary effort that brings together physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals across a variety of disciplines with computer scientists, researchers, educators, and human factors engineers.
Currently the MSC has newborn, infant, junior, adult and “birthing” simulators as well as a canine simulator. In addition the center possesses an ever widening array of individual task trainers to meet your training needs.