The Scope E-Newsletter January 2010 Medical Simulation Center Open House Demonstrates Virtual Operating Room

Sim Center Open House The UT Graduate School of Medicine Medical Simulation Center held an open house sponsored by Simbionix to assess virtual reality simulation models. Faculty, residents, fellows, medical students and staff were invited to survey upper and lower GI (gastrointestinal) tracts; practice complete laparoscopic cholecystectomy; and practice bronchoscopy while receiving feedback and performance metrics from the computer-based simulators. The technologies included true-to-life case scenarios, including patients with varying anatomies, diverse pathologies, and reactive vital signs and complications.

Simulation Center Open House Leonard Hines, MD, Co-Director, said, "Virtual reality simulation provides a significant opportunity for residents and staff alike to learn or review surgical techniques and improve performance in a risk-free environment outside the operating room. The potential availability of this technology at the Medical Simulation Center enables us to advance toward the level of sophistication we hope to reach in our curricula and training programs at the UT Graduate School of Medicine and the University of Tennessee Medical Center."

The open house provided an opportunity for Medical Simulation Center staff to become familiar with the virtual reality models available and determine which would best fit the needs of the Graduate School of Medicine.

The Medical Simulation Center opened its doors in 2008 and provides training opportunities on life-size human mannequins, laparoscopic simulators and other skills-building models. Under the direction of Dr. Hines; Co-Director Paul Huffstutter, MD; Melinda Klar, RN, Administrator; and Judy Roark, CST, Coordinator and Skills Coach, the Center is utilized by faculty, staff, residents, fellows and medical students for instruction, skills practice and simulation.