The HELPS (Human Emulation, Education, and Evaluation Lab for Patient Safety) Center Program is owned and operated by the Mount Sinai School of Medicine Department of Anesthesiology. The program has been in operation since 1994, when we became the first beta simulator test site, on the acquisition of the University of Florida's Anesthesia Simulator. Although owned and operated exclusively by the Department of Anesthesiology, our target audience is multidisciplinary and includes curriculum for attendings, fellows, residents, medical students, and nurses.
The Department of Anesthesiology’s HELPS Center education complex is located in the Department’s office space. The center occupies approximately 2000 square feet, and features a large conference room (that seats approximately 40 people), a classroom (that seats approximately 20 people), and two fully functioning simulator rooms each capable of educating 15 participants per room. Each simulator room is equipped with a dedicated METI human simulator, patient monitor, computer record keeper, and anesthesia delivery system.
The simulators (two stationary METI HPS adults, one of which was a descendant from the first beta unit created by Loral), one mobile METI ECS adult simulator, one METI child simulator, and a mobile METI infant simulator) are all full-scale patient mannequins with palpable pulses, audible breath and heart sounds, and pupils that react to light. The stationary systems incorporate oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production. Through the interaction of sophisticated cardiovascular, pulmonary, and pharmacological mathematic modeling, they realistically respond to simulated drugs and medical interventions. In January of 2012 we recently upgraded our facilities including a new HPS simulators and the acquisition of a mobile ECS simulator. The HELPS Center also houses several part-task trainer simulators including:
Virtual Reality HAPTIC feedback-based Bronchoscopy and Colonoscopy
Virtual Reality HAPTIC feedback-based Transesophageal Echocardiography
Neuraxial Epidural/Spinal Training Simulator Model
Ultrasound-Guided Upper Extremity Block Model
Ultrasound-Guided Central Line Model
Airway Management Models for Intubation and Bag-Mask Ventilation
The HELPS Center is supported by a state-of-the-art integrated and custom-designed audiovisual system that includes three dedicated computers, three wall-mounted articulating 65’’ LCD screens with “SmartBoard" technology overlays, enabling touch-screen, video-conferencing, and whiteboard capabilities. There is a dedicated ceiling-mounted LCD projector coupled with an automated projection screen. Multiple camera installations in each simulator room and integrated microphones allow for teleconferencing and direct feedback to participants from the main control room. The AV system provides the ability to display, record, and create videos or DVDs for debriefing. Custom programmed touch-screen panels enable local, national and international telemedicine conferences from any location in the within the HELPS Center.
|
|
