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First Responder Training in Mt. Pleasant, MI as seen
from the control station in Ann Arbor, MI.
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Distance-Based Simulation Training For First Responders The First U.S.
Course Based On Advanced Distributed Learing And Distributed Interactive
Simulation
2003-01-20
Although the use of High-Fidelity Patient Simulators in medical training
increases rapidly, the vast majority of courses involving simulation are
offered at the training centers affiliated either with medical schools
or larger community colleges. In most instances, prehospital providers
without affiliation with these centers have very limited opportunities
to attend simulation-based refresher or continuous medical education (CME)
courses.
To bridge this gap, MedSMART and the College of Health Professions at
Central Michigan University (CMU) conducted the first ever distance-based
simulation refresher course for First Responders. The main purpose of
the program — founded on the simulation-based principles championed
and extensively tested by MedSMART — was to provide analysis of
logistical issues pertinent to the routine training of U.S. prehospital
personnel in the combined environment of High-Fidelity Patient Simulation,
Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) and Distributed Interactive Simulation
(DIS).
The course was taught over a period of 8 weeks with a 2-hour distance
training session each week. During each distance session, the trainees
were presented with several fast-paced single or multiple patient scenarios
that allowed them to practice their diagnostic and management skills in
cardiac and trauma emergencies. The distance training period culminated
in an 8-hours “hands-on” session during which the trainees
had to demonstrate their abilities to diagnose and manage a series of
six unknown scenarios presented with “real-life” constraints
of time and resource limits. The rate of acquisition of knowledge, its
retention, curriculum assessment, learner attitudes, etc. were gathered
using video recording of all training sessions, query questionnaires,
and learner comments To compare distance-based simulation training with
more traditional forms of postgraduate training, identical data were collected
during a traditional, classroom-based course taught by the same instructors
but without the benefit of simulation.
The quantification and evaluation of the data is currently conducted
by a team of independent investigators under the direction of Dr. Pamela
Whitten from Michigan State University. Although the principal goal of
the course was to determine the logistics and administrative aspects of
simulation-based distance training at a prehospital level, its positive
reception indicates a substantial need for similar initiatives. Together
with the College of Health Professions at Central Michigan University,
MedSMART intends to vigorously implement the lessons learned during the
present course in all forthcoming offerings. Similar to MedSMART’s
previous work, the course was offered as a free-of-charge event, its fiscal
requirements covered entirely by the HHS Office for the Advancement of
Telehealth grant to the College of Health Professions at CMU, while technical
support was generously provided by Digital Realm, Inc., an advanced telecommunications
company in Ann Arbor, MI. As always, continuous, unflinching support of
Laerdal USA made the entire concept possible.
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Master
Control Station at MedSMART, Ann Arbor, MI.
The engineer supervises
all technical aspects of training, including local and remote camera
and sound control, video switching, and operation of the Human Patient
Simulators.
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View from the remote site |
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Hands on training at CMU. The students practice basic management of trauma in the field.
The simulator is under control of the remote training expert located at MedSMART - Ann Arbor.
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AFTER SEVEN YEARS, DAG VON LUBITZ RETIRES FROM MedSMART
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Ann Arbor, MI; The Chairman and Chief Scientist of MedSMART, Dr. Dag von Lubitz, retires from his active involvement with the company on the 1st April 2008. Under the leadership of von Lubitz, the company pioneered simulation-based advanced distributed learning (ADL), and subsequently deployed worldwide several routine education/training programs aimed at 1st Responders and medical personnel working in field, pre- and in-hospital settings. MedSMART also pioneered distributed, global-access simulation-based training for medical military personnel, and was the first to employ the concept of Medical Application Service Provider (MedASP) in multinational, transatlantic training in counter-bioterrorism measures. Von Lubitz transformed the company from a leading-edge, simulation-based training organization delivering worldwide educational content to an international think-tank devoted to the analysis of advanced technology and delivery platforms in medical training, homeland security, and disaster management operations. During his tenure at MedSMART, von Lubitz was the first to introduce then apply the principles of network-centric operations in non-military activities. Selected publications that present MedSMART's operations conducted during the period of his association with the company are accessible at this web-site (see Publications link). Von Lubitz will continue his association with the company as a consulting scientist. Mr. Howard Levine, B.Eng., will act as the Interim Chairman of MedSMART. Laureate of City of Laval Prize in Technology, Mr. Levine serves currently as the Executive Vice President and Director of Operations at Digital Realm, Inc, a highly successful next-generation company specializing in broadband internet access and data, video telephony and video delivery service over IP networks. Following education at the University of Michigan and a career as a cameraman in several feature films, Mr. Levine concentrated on the development of interactive e-commerce Web-based systems for some of the major companies in the USA. Mr. Levine played a critical role in the development of telemedicine systems at the University of Michigan. In addition to his leadership functions at Digital Realm, Mr. Levine is actively involved in the development of new methods in simulation-based distance medical education, and in the development of telemedical telecommunication platforms suitable for use in the Third World and in other technologically impoverished regions of the globe. Mr. Levine is the co-author of several peer-reviewed papers devoted to these topics.
Under direction of Howard, MedSMART will continue on its path of innovation and change initiated by von Lubitz.
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The uses of High-Fidelity Patient Simulators have been expanded through the highly innovative training program developed by MedSMART and the Italian group from the Department of Surgery at the School of Medicine at the University of L'Aquila, Italy, led by Francesco Gabbrielli, M.D. During the course, final year medical students of the L'Aquila School of Medicine were trained in the management of trauma emergencies that require rapid surgical decision making and perisurgical patient management.
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MedSMART and the College of Health Professions at Central Michigan University (CMU) conducted the first ever distance-based simulation refresher course for First Responders. The main purpose of the program - founded on the simulation-based principles championed and extensively tested by MedSMART - was to provide analysis of logistical issues pertinent to the routine training of U.S. prehospital personnel in the combined environment of High-Fidelity Patient Simulation, Advanced Distributed Learning (ADL) and Distributed Interactive Simulation (DIS).
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| Nobel Laureate, World-Renowned
E-Learning Expert, and Citrix E-Ambassador
Join MedSMART Board.
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| The international commitee of jurors awarded
the Laval Virtuel Prize in Medicine and the City of Laval Prize
to MedSMART for the use of simulation and IT technologies in
distance education and training in medicine. Considered the
equivalent of the golden palm at the Cannes film festival, the
International Laval Virtuel Prize is awarded for achievement
in virtual reality and information technology. The City of Laval
Prize is awarded for the international impact and significance
of the project.
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Laerdal, Inc. assists MedSMART in creation of a new concept in simulation-based medical education and training.
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MedSMART offers its unique training capability
as a part of the national volunteer effort to assist national
authorities in search and rescue efforts in New York
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MedSMART is proud to announce Dr. Oleg Orlov
as the new member of the company's Board of Trustees. Dr. Orlov,
a member of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences and the
Director of the Russian Telemedicine Foundation, joined the
Board in September 2001.
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MedSMART and Digital Realm, Inc. are proud
to announce their partnership in developing new solutions to
the problem of training large numbers of dispersed medical personnel
using remote access to Human Patient Simulators
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MedSMART, Inc. is pleased to announce the premiere
of www.med-smart.org
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A remotely controlled Human Patient Simulator
located at the facilities of MedSMART, Inc. in Ann Arbor, MI,
was used to train personnel in L'Aquila, Italy in execution
of life-saving emergency medical procedures
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