The Clinical Simulation Center (CSC) at Stony Brook Medicine provides simulation training including the use of high fidelity manikins, standardized patients and partial task trainers which is a major component of education and training at our institution. The mission of the CSC is to use simulation technology and state of the art medical technologies to support the education, development, and evaluation of healthcare professionals and students to create a safer environment for patients by:
- Promoting interdisciplinary teaching and team training
- Improving clinical outcomes and promoting excellence in patient care
- Improving communication skills and professionalism
- Enabling learners to acquire and improve their skills and knowledge in support of life-long professional growth
- Conducting research that expands clinical knowledge and advances the field of simulation education.
The CSC is a state-of-the-art training center that can be used as a resource for specialized training of medical, nursing and other healthcare students as well as physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals. The participants of the Center include healthcare students from the following schools: School of Medicine, School of Nursing, School of Dental Medicine, and School of Management and Technology (PA, Respiratory, and Public Health), School of Social Welfare as well as residents and hospital staff. In the Center, participants evaluate and provide care for patients through teaching modules that incorporate the use of actor patients and computerized manikins that simulate disease processes. The CSC provides opportunities for hands on training in a safe environment.
The Center opened in December 2006 and includes the following features:
- 6,000 square feet, including exam rooms, computer stations and conference rooms
- 20 fully equipped exam rooms with computer stations and 3 simulation labs
- Audio/visual monitoring for each exam room and Sim Labs (ER/OR) via a simulation software system which allows for:
- simultaneous monitoring, testing and assessment, digital A/V Management, and centralized data capture
- A computer server system with the capacity to store 2 to 3 years of videotaped participant/patient encounters/report information
- Ability for participants and faculty to remotely view videotaped encounters
- High fidelity computerized manikins (Laerdal SimMen, SimJunior, SimNewB and SimBaby)
- Clinical Stations/partial trainers (TraumaMan, Central Line Trainers, IV arms, Arterial arms, Lumbar Puncture backs, Intubating heads, Pediatric Multi Venous IV arm kit, IV torso, Airway Management Trainer, PICC Line Trainer, Foley trainers, Ultrasound equipment, NGT/Trach Trainer, TEE Simulator, Knee Aspiration, Birthing Trainer, Pacerman)
- Approximately 100 standardized patients/actors in Center database
- Large library of developed standardized patient cases
- Simulated stethoscope equipment for use with standardized patients. A device that will allow the patient to have abnormal physical exam findings.
The CSC provides a range of outcome assessment activities including Objective Standardized Clinical Exercises (OSCEs), standardized patient encounters, high-fidelity mannequin scenarios, and clinical skills stations. The Center also provides certification courses including BLS, ACLS, and PALS. Another type of learning activity is the provision of Gynecological Teaching Associates (GTAs) and Male Teaching Associates (MUTAs). GTAs and MUTAs teach students/healthcare providers how to perform invasive exam such as female gynecological and breast exams or male genital exams and allow them to practice these skills. The CSC is occasionally utilized for research related to simulation training only. Research involving patients and direct patient care is never performed in the CSC.
The CSC can offer a variety of learning experiences based on the needs of the learners, learning objectives and the course curriculum. Activities can range from one discipline to inter-professional with multiple disciplines participating in a team type of training. Participants can participate in these activities individually or as a group. Hybrid simulations can also be developed combining the various types of simulations. For example, standardized patients can act as family members during a manikin simulation or a partial task trainer can be used in a room with a standardized patient for incorporation of a skill training into a standardized patient encounter.
The learning activities in the CSC can be formative or summative. The activities can be used to teach or assess many skills/areas including history, physical exam, communication, interaction, patient safety, as well as procedural skills. All learning activities are videotaped to allow for review of participant performance and to provide feedback to the learner. The video review can occur during a group session as part of a debriefing or individually as part of a self-evaluation. These videos can also be accessed remotely through a web based link for viewing by participants or faculty in a private or classroom setting.
Standardized patients are also trained to provide both written and verbal feedback to the participants based on the learning activity. This information is stored in the simulation software system which allows for a variety of reports that can be generated regarding participant performance in an activity. Additionally, participants can complete post encounter activity based on the scenario.
