We aim to bridge the gap between classroom learning and clinical practice. 

The Center for Medical Simulation and Innovative Education uses a multidisciplinary approach to simulation education and training. Our facilitators design learning experiences that support patient safety and learner psychological safety. Hands-on training introduces our learners to best practices in patient safety and quality of care and teaches them to think critically and solve problems in an environment that does not put the patient at risk.

In the Simulation Center, we use key principles and designs to deliver simulation education such as:

• Learning through experience
• Facilitating engaging, relevant, sequential experiences that promote skill mastery and incorporate self-reflection and transference
• Learning from successes and failures, as well as challenges and discoveries
• Stimulating an environment in which learners ask questions and seek answers
• Designing learning experiences that support patient safety and learner psychological safety
• Role modeling and valuing a positive and supportive organizational culture
• Encouraging and inspiring a culture of multidisciplinary team learning

Trainings and Exercises

Current and future health care professionals improve patient safety and quality of care through interactive, practice-based medical training. By using a challenge and discovery work setting, our learners recognize successes and failures and are mentally and emotionally challenged.
 
Our center offers several different training programs to meet specific training needs, including:

Education Research and Research and Prototype Testing

• Medication administration
• Monitoring equipment

Practice and Demonstration of Care in Simulated Acute and Critical Care Settings

• Medical-surgical unit
• Intensive care unit
• Emergency settings (sedation, trauma, triage, bay and operating rooms)
• Integrating the use of the electronic health records into care

Training on New Devices, Technologies, Protocols and Procedures—Specifically Limited to Those That Can Be Performed in a Home, Clinic or Hospital

• Ultrasound techniques for diagnosis and treatment
• Airway management
• Basic surgical techniques
• Arterial line cannulation

Collaboration Stations for Multiple Learners and Procedures

• Mannequin-based procedures
• Basic surgical techniques using simulated tissue, in addition to preserved and fresh animal tissue

Team Training, Inter-Team and Inter-System Simulation That Emphasizes Patient Safety Through Safe Clinical Transfer and Handoff Communications

• Multi-patient trauma scenarios or critical-care-to-critical-care transfers
• Critical learning objectives involving clinical decision making as a team, communication, protocol and process adherence

Formative Communication Skills Training Using Video-Based Debriefing

• Communication among team members and also patient and family members
• Multipurpose clinical encounters in various settings such as outpatient and acute care