Undergraduate Medical Education

The culture of medical education is changing. Patients expect that health care providers will not be performing procedures on them for the first time. In those areas where simulation technology is available, students should be expected to acquire their initial experience in a simulated environment. 

At this stage, they require more time to gather the history, examine the patient, process information, and make decisions. Many times, they are encountering these clinical scenarios for the first time.

It is crucial to provide them with additional support at this pivotal juncture.  Our students evaluate patients in teams. They use their collective knowledge on the case, with one person acting as the team leader. They take turns being team leader and gain experience shouldering decision-making responsibility.  They have the time to practice with the actual equipment they will use in an actual medical resuscitation. 

We encourage them to mange the airway, to give drugs, and to order cardiac defibrillation - to see the consequences of their actions. Regardless of the outcomes of their simulation performances, we debrief, educate, and encourage. Giving students permission to ask questions and make mistakes is a powerful way to develop self-confidence, self-awareness, and self-reflection. They realize the significance of their future responsibilities and leave motivated to improve.

With simulation, every student in a class can receive the exact same patient care experiences. We no longer have to rely on chance exposure in the clinical setting.

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