Hi fidelity simulation training
Health professionals undergo state-of-the-art training at our dedicated simulation and interactive learning (SaIL) centre at St Thomas' Hospital.
The centre includes:
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an outpatient consulting room
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a 6-bed ward/clinical skills training space
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an operating theatre/2-bed intensive care unit ward
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a home environment
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a surgical simulation room.
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What is medical simulation?
A full immersion medical simulator is similar to flight simulators used to train pilots.
Sophisticated manikins, known as human patient simulators, provide healthcare professionals with a computer-based patient. The manikins breathe, talk, have audible heart and lung sounds, a measurable pulse rate, and can even be given drugs and fluids.
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Simulation training: the benefits
Simulation is a training and feedback method, where learners practice tasks in life-like circumstances.
Using our excellent facilities, trainees can rehearse and perfect even the most complex procedures.
The training allows staff to:
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increase the safety of patients
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practise dealing with errors
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improve their skills in managing patients.
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Why have a dedicated simulation centre?
We have been using simulation to train healthcare professionals for several years.
At first, we took a manikin, known as a human patient simulator (HPS), to operating theatres, labour wards, cardiac catheter laboratories and accident and emergency for training sessions lasting 4 to 8 hours.
While this provided effective in situ training, it was time consuming to transport and set up the HPS. Also, the availability of venues could change: in a real-life clinical setting, emergencies cropped up that might lead to training being cancelled at the last minute.
Hence, we set up the specially equipped, hi-tech, dedicated SaIL centre at St Thomas' House, St Thomas' Hospital.
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Simulation training at Guy's
We also have a simulator training space in the Sherman education centre at Guy's Hospital, which includes a simulation training lab and a large, surgical simulation room.
These facilities have several computer-controlled whole-body manikins that breathe, talk, have audible heart and lung sounds, a measurable pulse rate, and can be given drugs and fluids.
Using these excellent facilities, trainees can experience real-life healthcare scenarios.