Anaesthetic simulators: training for the broader health-care profession

The use of high-fidelity patient simulators for training health-care professionals has increased rapidly in recent years. Approximately 150 simulation training centres operate internationally. Australasia has acquired four centres since 1997. A large component of simulator-based training is experiential.

Participants manage clinical scenarios on lifelike computer-controlled mannikins within realistic clinical environments. Afterwards they actively reflect upon the experience, an exercise that is facilitated by observation of a video replay of the event.

This approach to training promotes a consideration of broader issues which can influence clinical practice and patient outcomes. This has particular relevance to emergencies. Here, events that are by nature infrequent and unscheduled can be addressed in a controlled fashion, in an environment that is supportive and separated from actual patients.

A broad range of skills can be addressed with this resource. Of key importance are situational management and team effectiveness skills. Deficiencies with respect to these 'non-clinical' skills are being increasingly identified for their contribution to preventable adverse events within the health-care environment. Multidisciplinary operation-room team training has the potential to address these issues as they relate to the perioperative environment.