Collaborative development of a patient simulator for educating nurses in hemofiltration therapies

As the complexity and variety of the treatment modalities in critical care continue to expand, the clinician is faced with the task of providing a safe environment for the education of staff and the evaluation of these new modalities. The use of simulators, similar to the one described in this article, is one economical solution that can provide this education and evaluation. For instance, the major components of the hemofiltration simulator can be fabricated and purchased for under $1,000. This estimate excludes the medical cart, which retails for $437. The success of such a solution, however, necessitates that the simulator meet the defined clinical needs while meeting or exceeding the biomedical equipment standards set by AAMI or other regulatory agencies that might govern the use of such devices.