Anaesthetic simulators: training for the broader health-care profession

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Healthcare Simulation
• Patient Safety

Background:

• High-fidelity patient simulators are increasingly used for health-care professional training.
• Over 150 simulation training centers operate globally, with four established in Australasia since 1997.
• Experiential learning forms a significant part of simulator-based training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of high-fidelity patient simulation in healthcare training.
• To highlight the role of simulation in addressing non-clinical skills critical for patient safety.
• To explore the application of simulation in multidisciplinary team training within the perioperative environment.

Main Methods:

• Healthcare professionals manage clinical scenarios using advanced, computer-controlled mannikins in realistic settings.
• Training involves active reflection on simulated experiences, often aided by video replay.
• Scenarios focus on infrequent, unscheduled events like emergencies in a controlled, safe environment.

Main Results:

• Simulator training encourages consideration of factors influencing clinical practice and patient outcomes.
• The approach is particularly relevant for managing emergencies by providing a controlled training environment.
• Participants gain experience in managing complex situations and improving team collaboration.

Conclusions:

• High-fidelity simulation effectively trains a wide range of skills, notably situational management and team effectiveness.
• Deficiencies in these non-clinical skills are linked to preventable adverse events in healthcare.
• Multidisciplinary operating-room team training using simulation can significantly improve perioperative patient safety.