Testimonials

A simulating experience for country health professionals

 A world class Patient Treatment Simulation & Training Facility for doctors and nurses is on its way to Moree in a bid to provide unique access to education for country health professionals.

The facility will be at Moree District Health Service, between 12 and 14 October and will train over 30 doctors and nurses from Moree, Inverell and other New England health sites.

Six doctors, an engineer and a nurse will run the course at Moree along with a truckload of audiovisual and computing equipment including life-like patient simulators from John Hunter Hospital. Rooms will then be set up throughout the Moree District Health Service to resemble wards, the Emergency Department and operating theatres for the mock situations.

“The Simulation Courses will allow health professionals who care for rural communities the chance to rehearse emergency situations they wouldn’t often find themselves in, but need to be prepared to manage at any time,” Director of Simulation at Hunter New England Health Cate McIntosh said.

The mannequins used in the course can react to conditions in all ways a human patient would, with speech, breathing and blood pressure, among other features, all being included. Doctors and nurses in attendance over the course will have to determine the nature of the patient’s conditions and the best way to treat them, under the same time constraints as a real life incident.

The realistic nature of the ‘patient’ and the use of real clinical equipment and situations make it easy for the staff to immerse themselves in the experience. Although they find it stressful, like pilots training on a flight simulator, the courses provide an opportunity to rehearse for serious but rare events, without any risk to passengers or patients.

“The Simulation Course is a chance for our country health professionals to have access to training that staff in the city can attain regularly,” Dr McIntosh said.

 -  Media Release courtesy of Abbey Wright, HNEAHS Communication Unit, 6 October 2010.

Student Demonstrations

 The HNE Skills and Simulation Centre is a keen participant in the annual Rural High School student tour of Hunter New England Health facilities.  Each year approximately 30 - 40 students undertake a tour of the centre and observe a live demonstration of the SimMan training mannequin followed by the opportunity to feel the pulse and listen to heart sounds.          

Simulation-based Sedation Course for Endoscopists

Nine senior NSW gastroenterologists and 5 endoscopsy nurses participated in a well-received pilot Simulation-based Sedation Course for Endoscopists conducted at the HNE Skills and Simulation Centre on 22-23 May 2009. The course was developed to meet objectives delineated by a Tripartite (ANZCA, RACS and GESA) Sedation Working Group.

Early written feedback from the participants was full of praise. ‘Congratulations!! What a fabulous experience, it was clear that an enormous amount of time, planning and energy went into bringing this course to the humble GE consumer. It is clear to us that it needs to be part of the core training curriculum for GE trainees.’

Click here to read more - GMCT Newsletter, June 2009 (Page 7)

Click here to read more - The ANZCA Bulletin, June 2009 (Page 5)

Testimonials from Simulation Course Participants

"This is really excellent training, what I would describe as "essential" for PECC  and possibly all PICU staff given the frequency that we rapid tranq. patients. They made complex issues simply to understand and demystified the process. They made us realise that the essential part of a successful outcome in any medical emergency is the ability of the team to comminucate effectively and use the resources available - including external expertise to deliver what the patient needs."   Vince Drinkwater, NUM PICU.  March 2011

"As an older consultant physician, it is some time since I was placed in a situation where I was directly involved in a resuscitation.  Before going on long service leave in Nepal, I decided to sign up for a day of practical training in the HNESSC and I’m very glad I did so. I not only gained insights in to cutting edge practice but also learnt about team leadership and followership in a very practical and stimulating way.  I was put on the spot, right outside my comfort zone! It also gave me a new appreciation for the skill of my younger colleagues who joined me on the training day and an admiration for HNESSC staff and their carefully thought out learning environment.  I intend now to work further on my own rather deficient skills, fully aware that one never knows what is around the corner.  I will be back for more!"   Dr John Ferguson , Director Infection Prevention.  April 2011

“Some clinical situations are rare and we can’t gain proficiency by experience.  Anything that helps us gain competence in these areas is very important and I think the simulation achieves this extremely well.”   August 2007 simulation course participant

“The simulation course was a fun and alternative way of teaching critical care to health professionals.  Simulation courses also aim to encourage teamwork, which is very important!  I would strongly recommend it to everyone in the unit!” August 2007 simulation course participant

“Debriefing was very well guided.  High fidelity scenarios.  Valuable mix of scenarios.” November 2008 simulation course participant

“A valuable learning opportunity – look forward to future sessions.” November 2008 simulation course participant