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Biomedical Centre of Simulation
Published on 05 September 2018
Portugal
Norte
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
The triggering problem was the lack of sufficient patients to train the hundreds of med school students on essential medical procedures, so there was a clear need for replacing patients with consistent simulators for procedures that necessarily need to be practiced, such as collecting clinical informations; more uncomfortable procedures to be taught with an audience, such as a breast palpation; new surgeries to be performed by doctors on future patients; specific actions (like bathing inpatients) to be trained by healthcare assistants; teaching firefighters how to deliver life support on ambulances, and so on.
The main work to finish was actually rebuilding the space for the simulation center’s rooms - the simulators were acquired before, but they weren’t being used at all.
After the building was ready to start receiving students, there was a communication effort on making the project not only visible to external organizations (such as congresses and other universities who don’t have access to such simulators), but also viable to university teachers and a way of making university classes more effective and less invasive to patients.
The main stakeholders are university teachers and healthcare professionals, but also teaching institutions’ directors and hospital managers.
The main beneficiaries are all sorts of health professionals and students who need to practice any kind medical procedures.
The main work to finish was actually rebuilding the space for the simulation center’s rooms - the simulators were acquired before, but they weren’t being used at all.
After the building was ready to start receiving students, there was a communication effort on making the project not only visible to external organizations (such as congresses and other universities who don’t have access to such simulators), but also viable to university teachers and a way of making university classes more effective and less invasive to patients.
The main stakeholders are university teachers and healthcare professionals, but also teaching institutions’ directors and hospital managers.
The main beneficiaries are all sorts of health professionals and students who need to practice any kind medical procedures.
Resources needed
Potentially, around 100.000€ were used to rebuild the centre; each simulator costs around 50.000€, (in total, about 300.000€ only on simulators and material within the centre).
There’s usually 2 full time employees (working mainly on administration and the preparation of classes).
There’s usually 2 full time employees (working mainly on administration and the preparation of classes).
Evidence of success
The amount of users is the biggest proof of success:
More than 5000 users (4655 are students); the simulators are used from the first to the sixth year of graduation; universities from other study areas (such as Veterinary) are trying to include, on the same centre, new animal simulators for the same purposes; and the centre is now used to evaluate students on the university subjects - so now they became a mandatory part of the graduation process.
More than 5000 users (4655 are students); the simulators are used from the first to the sixth year of graduation; universities from other study areas (such as Veterinary) are trying to include, on the same centre, new animal simulators for the same purposes; and the centre is now used to evaluate students on the university subjects - so now they became a mandatory part of the graduation process.
Potential for learning or transfer
Any university-hospitals whose curriculum foresees the need to provide the students simulators to replace real patients can start building its own simulation centre. If the centre is located at a university-hospital that will reinforce the connections, not only between teachers and students but also between other healthcare professionals, such as nurses, and the institutions responsible by organizing conferences, etc.
But other institutions, such as military organizations or private hospitals from other countries (such as Czech Republic or Angola) have visited the Simulation Centre before to consider transferring this practice to their own countries.
As referred above, this allows for better training of current and future health service professionals, and consequently to a better use of innovation for the improvement of health at a regional level.
But other institutions, such as military organizations or private hospitals from other countries (such as Czech Republic or Angola) have visited the Simulation Centre before to consider transferring this practice to their own countries.
As referred above, this allows for better training of current and future health service professionals, and consequently to a better use of innovation for the improvement of health at a regional level.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
Centro Hospitalar do Porto / Abel Salazar Institute of Biomedical Sciences - University of Porto
Portugal
Norte
Contact
Project Manager