Choosing the Right Medical Simulator

Medical simulation recreates real-life situations so that healthcare providers can learn, practice and assess their medical skills in a safe environment. This type of training helps limit the risk of accidents that can occur in practice when healthcare workers have not been sufficiently trained. Medical simulators are used for a number of purposes, including ongoing training, teaching, public education and research.

• Ongoing training: Training simulators are used to provide specific training for physicians, nurses, surgeons and other healthcare workers in various medical and surgical specialties, as well as to prepare them for the application of the best practices as adopted by hospitals.
• Teaching: Medical simulators are widely used in the initial training of medical students. In surgical teaching, for example, they offer another dimension to traditional learning, often carried out through observation, and allow medical acts to be practiced and perfected in a safe environment. Suture simulators, intravenous injection simulators, etc., can be used by students to practice correctly using the instruments and technology found in operating rooms.
• Public education: Medical simulators can be used to train the general public in first aid, for example.
• Technical and medical research

There are three main types of simulations: human simulation, manikin simulation and virtual simulation. There is also hybrid simulation, large-scale simulation and simulations known as “serious games”.

Human simulation

This type of simulation is performed with a standardized patient, also known as a simulated patient. Either actors, healthcare professionals, or real sick patients play the role of the patient in order to simulate consultations. For example, this could be used to help train medical students or healthcare professionals how to empathetically and compassionately break the news of a patient’s death or difficult diagnosis to family members.

Manikin simulation

There are two main types of manikin simulations:

CAE patient simulator for nurses

• High-fidelity simulation (also known as full-scale simulation): This type of simulation involves the use of realistic, human-like manikins that represent life-size patients (adult, child, infant). These patient simulators are computer-controlled and simulate vital functions (blood pressure, pulse, etc.) speech, and, in the case of the most advanced devices, responses to stimuli and treatments. Some simulators even have the ability to bleed, blink, cry and sweat.
• Procedural simulation: This type of simulation is less realistic than high-fidelity simulation and is generally limited to one specific body part. It is used to learn technical procedures, such as in surgery or imaging. This is also known as low-fidelity simulation. This category includes, for example, torso simulators, pelvis simulators, arm simulators, etc.

Virtual simulation

Virtual medical simulation

Virtual simulation uses virtual reality and computer screens to provide training in procedures such as probe implantation, instrument handling, ECG analysis, etc. There are also software-based simulation programs for simulating aging, crisis management scenarios in simulation rooms, or what are known as “serious games”. Serious games are a form of virtual simulation in which the learner is immersed in a virtual environment that helps them acquire skills and knowledge.

In addition, there are also two other types of simulations:

• Hybrid simulation: This type of simulation combines simulated patients and manikin body parts, for example a pelvis that can simulate childbirth or an arm for intravenous infusions. This creates realistic scenarios in which practicing technical procedures is combined with interacting with real people.
• Large-scale simulation: This simulation combines the use of simulated patients, hybrid simulation and high-fidelity simulators. It is particularly useful in disaster medicine and helps healthcare professionals prepare for large-scale crisis situations.