ETSU Spotlight: The Simulation Laboratory

From East Tennessee State University:

The Simulation Laboratory at ETSU consists of six simulation rooms at ETSU’s Bishop Hall (Interprofessional Education and Research Center) that mimic the real-life patient care setting. In these labs, users practice their skills on human patient (mannequin) simulators in a controlled environment so that they have the necessary skills and confidence needed to transfer to a real-world hospital setting.

Lab Manager Andy Berry describes the capabilities of the simulation labs and some of the ways in which students and the community benefit from the technology:

What is unique and makes your laboratory/program stand out?

The simulation centers at Quillen College of Medicine are mannequin-based simulation, which uses high fidelity simulators. These simulators are mannequins that physiologically respond to treatment like what would occur in real life patients. The simulated patient can be assessed by the learner, they can initiate treatment with an accurate response, and perform a variety of procedures. This is done in a controlled learning environment that mimics the real-life patient care setting but is safe for the patient and learner. Quillen offers several types of simulation experiences: high fidelity, full-sized mannequins, task trainers, and virtual reality for surgical procedures.

What type of simulation activities does your team regularly host?

Each of the six simulation rooms are flexible spaces that can be manipulated to incorporate a multitude of scenarios. The simulators can create real-life teaching environments that range from outpatient examination rooms to inpatient rooms in areas such as the emergency department, intensive care unit, labor and delivery suite, and an operating theatre.
The simulation lab hosts Quillen College of Medicine students, students from each of ETSU’s health sciences, ETSU residents and many outside agencies within the medical community.

What is one of the most interesting Healthcare Simulation Sessions you have helped host?

The Doctoring II program with second-year medical students is a block of simulated sessions that I always enjoy having the opportunity to help facilitate. These sessions start with skills training and progress to high-fidelity simulations where the students are expected to interview the patient, diagnosis the patient and develop a treatment plan for the patient. My favorite part of the sessions is watching the students learn and improve their practice of medicine. Dr. Patricia Amadio is a wonderful instructor who has great interactions with the students in these sessions.
The Pediatric Clerkship is another favorite group of mine. These students are split into small groups and must work through three different vignettes. These vignettes include a high-fidelity case, a standardized patient case and a group of patients on power point. Dr. Brock Blankenship and Dr. Jennifer Gibson facilitate these scenarios and provide an informative debrief and discussion with the students.

What unique opportunities are offered for those outside of the college?

The simulation lab is very fortunate and has been able to work with many outside agencies. These agencies include The Girl Scouts of America local branch, outside EMS agencies with the annual XTLS conference, H.E.A.R.T Med-Trans (formally Wings Air-Rescue), Johnson City Fire Dept., all area high schools, and my personal favorite, Special Operations Pre-Deployment Medical Training.

This press release was produced by East Tennessee State University. The views expressed are the author's own.