In the Cleveland Clinic Education Institute’s new Center for Multidisciplinary Simulation, physicians, nurses, and allied healthcare providers engage in high-fidelity team-based sessions to learn specific clinical skills or practice new technical skills through the use of state-of-the-art task simulators. Innovative simulation labs, including a high-fidelity operating room simulator and several reconfigurable procedure situation rooms, allow surgical teams to practice their technical skills in an interactive, ultra-realistic yet highly controlled (and risk-free) learning environment. Simulator rooms are controlled by dedicated simulation control rooms. Control of the medical manikins, simulation capture system, and all oversight of the sessions occurs from the control rooms.
During the simulations, a clinic employee oversees the manikin’s actions, speech, and vital signs from an enclosed area adjacent to the simulation room. While the scenario is scripted ahead of time, the teacher leading the scenario can improvise depending on the trainees’ actions. As an example, if a defibrillator wasn’t used correctly, the teacher can adjust the heart rhythms — and the trainees are forced to react. A rich media capture system records clinicians’ every move during the scenarios. The exercises are stored and available for distribution and viewing on abundant flat panel displays throughout the facility.
The majority of learning occurs in the four technology-enabled debriefing rooms where clinicians review what went right and — more importantly — what went wrong during the high-stress simulations. The mission is not to just teach an individual how to take care of a patient, but how to teach the team to successfully work together in such an intricate and high-stakes environment. Digital signage placed in select locations throughout the building display information, schedules, video, and a variety of other content. Additional spaces include conference rooms, staff offices, storage, reception, and other support areas.
