Mater Education celebrates Simulation Week
This week Mater Education celebrates Simulation Week, an online event run by Simulation Australasia from 2 to 8 May, to promote the many forms of simulation and celebrate its growing importance within education and training.
Melanie Barlow, Mater Education Programs Manager and Deputy Chair of the Australian Society of Simulation in Healthcare, said simulation training allows clinicians from all levels and disciplines to continuously improve patient care delivery and outcomes by practicing and refining their technical skills, communication and team cohesiveness in a safe learning environment.
“Here at Mater Education, we’re lucky to have access to world-class clinical simulation facilities like the Mater Education Practice Improvement Centre (MEPIC), where healthcare students and clinicians can safely practice challenging aspects of patient care, using either computer-controlled mannequins or trained actors as patients”, Ms Barlow said.
“We deliver a range of simulation programs where students and clinicians can practice complex clinical scenarios that encourage high levels of clinical competence, critical thinking, teamwork and quality decision-making.
“In October 2015 we developed and delivered a 24 hour simulated hospital scenario, in preparation for the opening of Mater Private Hospital Springfield. This simulation event, with community volunteers acting as patients, was the first of its kind, and positioned Mater at the forefront of using simulation in staff education and facility testing,” she said.
Ms Barlow also said Mater launched its inaugural Simulation Fellowship program in 2016, designed to strengthen the use of innovative simulation training at Mater.
“Our first Simulation Fellows, Dr Dominic Ormston (Anaesthetics) and Dr Richard Mausling (Newborn Services) will complete a formal simulation qualification through the Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions, and will each develop a series of simulation-based training programs for their respective departments, to help keep Mater clinicians at the leading edge of their practice”, she said.
In 2014 Mater Education formalised an Affiliate Partnership with the world renowned Center for Medical Simulation (CMS) in Boston, USA. The partnership sees Mater Education co-deliver highly sort-after CMS courses for clinicians and educators interested in developing their knowledge and skills in using Simulation as a Teaching Tool and Advanced Debriefing.
A limited number of places are now available in the next CMS Simulation as a Teaching Tool course, to be held from 23 to 26 August 2016.
