[Simulation training for German anesthesiologists--case scenarios and training results]

Training of medical personnel using simulation techniques is an acknowledged measure of process optimization and quality assurance in a clinical setting. In 2006, a simulator-based training of anaesthesiologists was introduced in the University Medical Centre of Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Germany. The training was performed on a human patient simulator (Meti, Sarasota, USA) and the course was conducted by instructors and engineers from the Simulation Centre Mainz in an operation room equipped with common anaesthesia devices. Special lectures focused at crisis resource management and human errors were held in separate rooms. Parallel daily trainings of 6 physicians and 4 nurses were conducted during 9 days. The training was offered to the anaesthesia personnel of whole Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. A higher and more balanced overall performance of the participants was determined by the instructor teams in comparison to the training results in their own simulation centre. This improved performance was ascribed to the special circumstances of this training namely the familiar surroundings and team members.