Developing an equipment library for clinical skills and simulation training.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Education
• Medical Simulation
• Regional Resource Management

Background:

• Reduced funding for clinical skills equipment impacted training in the Yorkshire and Humber region.
• Limited access to specialized equipment hindered effective clinical skills and simulation training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a sustainable regional equipment library for clinical skills and simulation training.
• To address equipment accessibility challenges caused by funding reductions.

Main Methods:

• Consultation with stakeholders to identify concerns regarding equipment cost, repair, and maintenance.
• Conducted a SWOT analysis to address identified challenges.
• Developed a database for tracking equipment usage and auditing the service.

Main Results:

• Initial concerns regarding equipment costs, repair, and maintenance were identified.
• A framework for managing a regional equipment library was established.
• Processes for database development, usage tracking, and service auditing were created.

Conclusions:

• A regional equipment library can effectively mitigate funding shortfalls for clinical skills training.
• Addressing logistical and financial concerns is crucial for the successful implementation of shared equipment resources.
• The developed model provides a scalable solution for enhancing simulation training accessibility.