Center for Simulation Innovation at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center | MedStar Health

Center for Simulation Innovation at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center

Center for Simulation Innovation at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center

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Through the intersection of modernized facilities, renowned physician experts, and a growing community of medical students, MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center is uniquely positioned to become the preeminent regional destination for education and training. Through a partnership with MedStar Health’s Simulation Training and Education Lab (SiTEL), a fully equipped simulation and learning center will provide greater access for training opportunities and collaboration across the Baltimore region and set a new standard for state-of-the-art medical education across our nation.

MedStar Health resident Imad Issac uses a virtual reality headset as part of his medical education training.

 

The pillars of the program

  • Enhance clinical excellence: Surgical procedures, emergency medicine, and critical care techniques for different medical situations can be rehearsed and revised in simulation, allowing clinicians to practice and master the skills.

  • Make health care safer: To not only maintain, but exceed national benchmarks, medical simulation enables healthcare professionals to practice procedures and decision-making skills, where errors and complications can be addressed and rectified without impacting patients.

  • Support medical education: Using simulation, we allow residents to experience common, rare, or potentially dangerous situations in a safe environment.

  • Improve efficiency: Medical simulation increases proficiency, reduces the need for expensive equipment, lowers the risk of medical errors, and improves critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills.

  • Advance research and development: Testing new procedures, equipment, and treatment methods before they are introduced in clinical practice can help identify potential technological issues and improve patient outcomes.

John Yosaitis

“So much learning in medicine involves multiple-choice tests–one answer, no variables. I can answer those questions in my sleep. Simulation is different: previous experiences, personal values and beliefs, styles of actions, and personal preferences guarantee that each simulation scenario is different. Multiple variables, many answers. That is how actual clinical scenarios work; that is how we remember; that is how learning works.”

John Yosaitis, MD, MBA
Medical Director, MedStar Health Simulation Training and Education Lab
Medical Director, Integrated Learning Center, Georgetown University School of Medicine
Associate Professor, Georgetown University Medical School

The creation of the Center for Simulation Innovation will continue to advance clinical excellence with the following:

Close up photo of physicians learning surgical techniques on a simulation mannequin at MedStar Health.

The Operating Room and Surgical Team Training Simulation Suites are high-tech facilities that offer hands-on surgical training where teams can practice complex procedures and respond to challenging surgical scenarios using advanced simulation technology.

  • Case scenarios include fire in the operating room, crisis resource management, malignant hyperthermia, team communication, and robotic surgery.

An ultrasound technician touches a computer screen during a scan.

The Point-of-Care Ultrasound program will provide individuals with a hands-on opportunity to learn the fundamentals of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS)–a rapid diagnostic tool that can improve the speed and accuracy of diagnostic testing

  • Courses include an introduction to cardiac and pulmonary POCUS; use of ultrasound for gastrointestinal, genitourinary, and vascular cases; and procedural skills training.

MedStar Health resident Imad Issac uses a virtual reality headset as part of his medical education training.

The Virtual and Augmented Reality Training Lab will provide immersive, virtual training, allowing complex and high-risk procedures and scenarios to be performed in a safe and controlled environment. Simulations include serving as team leader in a Code Blue situation, using Stop the Bleed® procedures, patient communication scenarios, nurse specialty training, and responding to patients with heart failure, pulmonary embolism, or anaphylaxis.

Medical students learn using virtual reality and a simulation mannequin.

A 24/7 Simulation Skills Lab will provide round-the-clock training opportunities for healthcare professionals to refine their skills, improve patient safety, and stay up to date with the latest techniques and procedures.

  • Training stations include laparoscopy training, suture and knot tying, airway management, point-of-care ultrasound, and a diverse set of high-risk procedures.

A group of medical students pose for a photo around a simulation mannequin in a simulation lab.

The Learning and Resource Center will provide a dedicated space for discussion of simulation scenarios and evaluation of responses to enhance understanding, reinforce procedures, and promote continuous learning.

  • Activities include teleconferencing, collaboration, continued training, and debriefing.

The Center for Simulation Innovation will become an epicenter for transformative education, training, and practice in a high-need area of medical expertise. Your philanthropic support will have a direct impact on our patients and create a safer environment of care across MedStar Health.

To learn more about the Center for Simulation Innovation and how you can partner with us, please contact the Office of Philanthropy via email at philanthropy@medstar.net or call 443-777-7934.

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