Healthcare Simulation Center Gets Rebooted

Almost overnight, the coronavirus pandemic changed how medical universities like RVU provide hands-on, clinical experiences for students. While lecture courses were better suited for platforms like Zoom, skills-based workshops and anatomy labs required a more innovative approach. That’s where RVU’s Office of Simulation in Medicine and Surgery (SIMS)—with programs that include the Healthcare Simulation Center (HSC) and virtual reality soft ware—can bolster new methods for delivering comprehensive curriculums.

For many years, RVU has used simulation technologies like the Cut Suit® and other realistic manikins to enhance healthcare education for both students and faculty. These technologies, coupled with Standard Patient Encounters, create a controlled environment in which students can practice what they’ve learned in didactic courses, learn more complex techniques, and treat rare or unusual illnesses, all without putting a real patient at risk. In a pandemic, simulation experiences such as these might become crucial for student success.

During Healthcare Simulation Week, the Office of SIMS held a virtual unveiling of a remodel of the HSC on the Colorado campus. The major renovations include an ambulance ramp, a simulated trauma bay complete with two emergency rooms and operating rooms, a simulated prep room, and storage space for equipment. Both campuses also have wall murals to enhance the realism of the simulated clinical spaces and high-fidelity SimMom and Preemie Annie electronic manikins.

The Office of SIMS has added a virtual reality program to both campuses in the form of designated virtual reality rooms and advanced soft ware. Over the holiday break, students from the RVUCOM Class of 2023, MSBS Class of 2021, and PA Class of 2021 will also be able to participate in a virtual reality simulation competition from the comfort of their homes. The goal of the competition, which is based on specific clinical scenarios, will help students familiarize themselves with the virtual reality soft ware and Oculus Rift equipment.

“Simulation-based education is really important in today’s learners,” said Susan Carter, MD, FACS, Director of the Office of SIMS. “The [HSCs] provide multiple modalities for different types of learners,” all while ensuring that the Office of SIMS achieves its goals of ensuring patient-centered education and providing an innovative and state-of-the-art approach to healthcare education. For learners, workshops with realistic manikins and virtual reality simulations can assist in the retention of information for longer periods of time.