A newly build SESAM special interest group now focuses on technical aspects of patient simulation. The group is actively involved in arranging content for SESAM 2014. To allow a systematic approach to plan the strategy of the special interest group, Eric Stricker and Tim Antonius developed an online questionnaire to better understand the needs of the simulation community. Please be invited to participate at this first Tech-SIG survey at: http://surveys.sesam-web.org/index.php/746439/lang-en
Most simulators are developed for a special discipline or a special clinical field, e.g. Anesthesiology, Laparoscopic Surgery, etc. This ‘developed-in-isolation’ tendancy is a strong reason why it is still a big challenge to implement multidisciplinary training concepts with any given product, to combine different simulators and to synchronize their values and presentations. Moreover, there are under-defined interfaces between simulators and a real clinical setting with real equipment, e.g. vital sign data monitors. To work with one’s own and known equipment would increase relevance and reduce handling problems with the simulators and increase the role of simulation as a perfect test-bed for prototype testing or product evaluation.
There are too many incomplete and incompatible commercial AV-Systems, but most of them do not meet the real educational needs. Most of them are much too complex for non-AV experts to configure and use. AV-Systems for simulation have to be easy to set up, with an intuitive interface to operate it and designed for the real educational needs of simulation centers. Overall, standardized data formats that will support multi-center studies will boost the relevance of clinical simulation, thereby increasing return on investment by teachers, students, administrators and ultimately reducing risks to patients.
Big challenges in simulation-technology?
Technology has to provide perfect conditions for the instructor to create a highly relevant experience for all simulation participants. From a general or technical point of view simulation has three different screws to adjust. Every screw gives us the possibility to enhance the performance of simulation.
Some degree of simulator and simulation fidelity is required to engage participants in a learning or evaluation activity. It needs a physical fidelity, a conceptual and an emotional fidelity. It has to look, feel and behave like a real patient, and it should have the ability to draw the participant into the situation. In one word the simulation and the instructor has to create a relevant experience for simulation participants.
Please feel free to contact us if there are any questions. We look very much forward getting connected with you.
Erik Stricker
Tech-SIG chair
Email: tech-SIG@sesam-web.org