Training with dummies at Algonquin College

Last night Algonquin College, in conjunction with CapCHI – a user interface group, hosted a demonstration of Algonquin’s healthcare simulator.  Algonquin uses the simulator to train nurses, respiratory therapists, and other health professionals.

The lab they use is set up as a generic hospital ward and is similar to that used for training in many places.  What made this simulator interesting was the use of advanced dummies that are controlled by an instructor and that can simulate different symptoms – everything from a cough (with respiration driven by CO2 cartridges) to hemorrhages.  The “patient” for last night’s demonstration was a 19 year-old male who had been in a car accident.

At one point, the dummy went into cardiac arrest, but don’t worry, the students saved him/it!

It was neat to see how Algonquin is incorporating state of the art technology into training future healthcare professionals!

Technology and Workflow at the Ottawa Hospital

Last night’s event also featured a keynote address by Dr. Geiger, the Ottawa Hospital’s CMIO.  Dr. Geiger spoke about improving workflow with technology to achieve better patient outcomes – in contrast to implementing better technologies and changing workflow to accommodate them.  This is a concept in which we strongly believe but which is too often ignored.

Dr. Geiger spoke about the Ottawa Hospital’s initiative to give iPads to clinicians.  Giving clinicians tablets – and implementing order entry (CPOE) as well as providing access to imaging and results – has allowed physicians to return to the bedside.  This has increased both quality of care and patient satisfaction.  Most tellingly, during the pilot some physicians refused to return their tablets because they liked them so much!

(Update: A recording of the presentation may be found here:  http://mediasite.algonquincollege.com/Mediasite/Play/0bb3cdb0ff06427687719272b0b619831d)