A few things about medical simulation at CSM.
“Medical simulation is a teaching method that enables teaching through participation in realistic scenarios set in a natural work environment for a given specialty, such as an ambulance, an intensive care unit or, for example, a delivery room. It allows for combining theoretical knowledge with practical skills and the use of soft skills. Medical simulation can be divided into several categories, including: high-fidelity simulation, low-fidelity simulation, hybrid simulation and a standardized patient.
High-fidelity simulation uses full-body advanced patient simulators that speak, breathe, blink, and even sweat and bleed. The combination of their numerous functions with the possibility of dynamic changes in vital parameters allows for realistic presentation of disease symptoms to students and the possibility of independent decision-making regarding further treatment. The simulation rooms are equipped with real, modern medical equipment, such as resuscitation carts, patient monitors, defibrillators, intensive care beds, ECG machines and even ultrasound. During the scenario, students can order and interpret numerous laboratory and imaging tests. The entire scenario is recorded in the form of audio-video materials and compiled in special software with the current patient parameters. After the simulation session, the scenario is discussed in a room specially prepared for this purpose.
The Standardized Patient is an “actor” specially prepared to play the role of a patient, who takes part in the scenario instead of a patient simulator. The advantage of this type of simulation is the possibility of establishing a real relationship between medical personnel and a live patient. Clinical communication with the patient or their family is an extremely important element of diagnostics and treatment of patients, which is greatly emphasized in the Simulation Center.
Low-fidelity simulation classes use a variety of mannequins and trainers to teach technical skills that do not necessarily have to be set in a perfectly replicated environment. Knowledge acquired in this way is essential for further teaching students based on, among others, high-fidelity simulations.
Hybrid simulation uses a standardized patient in combination with trainers. In such scenarios, simulation participants may encounter, for example, a live patient during childbirth, or wounds requiring suturing (proper preparation, positioning and attachment of the trainer to the patient’s body allows for maintaining contact with a live patient along with the possibility of performing a number of advanced procedures, including invasive ones)
An extremely important part of simulation is discussing the completed scenario in comfortable and safe conditions, i.e. the so-called Debriefing. At this stage, simulation participants learn about the elements they performed correctly and those that require improvement in the future. Audio-video materials recorded during the scenario are often used for this purpose, objectively presenting the activities performed a moment ago. Debriefing consists of several stages, allowing each student to express their opinion and draw conclusions for the future. “