October 24, 2011 Volume 1, Issue 3

Title V Newsletter
Human Simulation Technology Arrives at the Allied Health Department.

Title V Team
Debbie Amaro Sarah Aranyakul Nicole Cisneros Leah Halper Robin Kreider Fran Lozano Josie Olivares Mary Ann Sanidad Leslie Tenney Karen Warren

Pilots, police, firefighters, and astronauts use it: Simulation for training and education. They learn with complex live-simulated situations. All these professions have something in common. They serve the public. Simulation is great because they can learn without injuring anyone.

sizes. They are programmed for whatever scenario the instructor has planned for them. They can be programmed for just about any medical situation. The trick is to make it as real as possible. Using moulage techniques, the manikin can simulate open skin lacerations or surgery sites.

Human simulators can be used to learn at any level. An Now, doctors and nurses entry level student, for example, are getting into the act. From a certified nursing assistant, may this idea, new technology is be required to demonstrate available for medical communication, use safety simulation. Human simulation precautions or perform vital technology can allow students signs. As students progress at all levels to learn procedures through the program, the skill and patient care without risk to level increases and they may a real patient. Veteran nurses need to assess the human and doctors can also use it to simulator patient, make critical improve or hone their skills, or decisions and take the necessary learn a new procedure. action. Hopefully, they will get it Simulation technology right, but if they dont, they can enhances understanding and practice until they are competent skill, and increases student without harm to an actual patient. success. When students go into the hospital for clinical rotations, Human simulators are they are more comfortable and computer-programmable lifesize manikins. They have heart confident with their level of clinical skills. beats, breathing sounds, bowel sounds and can groan, cough, and cry. There are adult-size, (cont. on page 2) child-size, infant and newborn

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Human Simulation, (cont.pg1)

Allied Health

Registered Nursing Licensed Vocational Nursing Certified Nurse Assistant Health Education Home Health Aide Clinical Medical Assisting

Now, Gavilan College Allied Health Program students are going to start using this new technology and we are excited! The Allied Health Department is setting up an area for simulation. This area will look as close to a hospital room as possible, with all the necessary supplies, monitors, and IV pumps. After scenarios are chosen and the manikin has been programmed, a small

group of about 4 or 5 students will complete the simulation while the rest of their class watches on live feed from another room. When the group is finished, the whole class debriefs the scenario commenting on what went well or what could be improved. Then another group gets a chance. What a great way to learn!

Pictured above: Allied Health simulation lab and equipment.