Training with Realistic Manikins in the Healthcare Profession Uncategorized @en-gb | Safeguard Medical 16/06/2023 In this article we will review the key benefits of training with realistic manikins in the healthcare profession. Enhanced Realism: Hyper-realistic manikins provide a life-like representation of human anatomy, physiology, and pathologies. They closely mimic actual patients’ appearance, feel, and responsiveness, creating an immersive training environment that prepares healthcare professionals for real-life scenarios. Hands-on Experience: Manikins allow healthcare professionals to gain valuable hands-on experience without the risk of harm to actual patients. This enables learners to practice and refine their clinical skills, such as performing medical procedures, administering medications, and managing emergencies, in a controlled and safe setting. Simulation of Diverse Scenarios: Realistic manikins can simulate various scenarios, from routine medical procedures to complex emergencies. This versatility enables healthcare professionals to practice and develop their skills across different clinical specialties and conditions, ensuring they are well-prepared for the diverse challenges they may face in their practice. Objective Performance Assessment: Manikin-based training provides an accurate performance assessment, allowing trainers to measure and evaluate learners’ skills and competencies. Performance metrics such as accuracy, speed, and critical thinking can be objectively measured, providing valuable feedback for improvement and identifying areas where additional training may be needed. Teamwork and Communication Skills: Realistic manikins facilitate team-based training, allowing healthcare professionals to practice effective communication, coordination, and collaboration in a simulated healthcare setting. This helps build essential teamwork skills and enhances interdisciplinary cooperation, crucial for providing quality patient care. Mistake-Driven Learning: Mistakes made during manikin-based training offer valuable learning opportunities without putting actual patients at risk. Healthcare professionals can make errors, assess the consequences, and learn from them in a safe and controlled environment. This iterative learning process helps to build confidence and competence. Repetition and Skill Refinement: Manikin-based training allows for repeated practice, enabling learners to refine their skills and increase proficiency. The ability to repeat procedures and scenarios helps healthcare professionals build muscle memory, develop clinical judgment, and improve their overall performance. Time and Cost Efficiency: Realistic manikin training reduces the need for costly and time-consuming clinical training involving actual patients. Healthcare professionals can gain essential skills and experience through manikin-based training, reducing the burden on healthcare facilities and optimizing resource allocation. In summary, training with realistic manikins in the healthcare profession offers numerous benefits, including enhanced realism, hands-on experience, simulation of diverse scenarios, objective performance assessment, teamwork and communication skills development, mistake-driven learning, skill refinement, and time and cost efficiency. These benefits contribute to better-prepared and competent healthcare professionals, ultimately improving patient outcomes and safety. References: Patterson MD, Geis GL, Falcone RA, et al. In situ simulation: detection of safety threats and teamwork training in a high-risk emergency department. BMJ Qual Saf. 2013;22(6):468-477. doi:10.1136/bmjqs-2012-000942 Wayne DB, Didwania A, Feinglass J, Fudala MJ, Barsuk JH, McGaghie WC. Simulation-based education improves quality of care during cardiac arrest team responses at an academic teaching hospital: a case-control study. Chest. 2008;133(1):56-61. doi:10.1378/chest.07-0131 Ziv A, Wolpe PR, Small SD, Glick S. Simulation-based medical education: an ethical imperative. Acad Med. 2003;78(8):783-788. doi:10.1097/00001888-200308000-00003 Aggarwal R, Mytton OT, Derbrew M, et al. Training and simulation for patient safety. Qual Saf Health Care. 2010;19 Suppl 2(Suppl 2):i34-i43. doi:10.1136/qshc.2009.038562 Kessler DO, Cheng A, Mullan PC. Debriefing in the emergency department after clinical events: a practical guide. Ann Emerg Med. 2015;65(6):690-698.e1. doi:10.1016/j.annemergmed.2014.10.018 Previous Article Next Article