Gas explosion dismemberment and a stab to the chest feature among scenarios that are part of a hi-tech patient-simulator that will be used as a real-life training tool at Gisborne hospital.
The simulator is a core component of MORSim (Multidisciplinary Operating Room Simulation), a national team training intervention programme for surgical teams. The goal is to improve safety and efficiency of care for patients.
A University of Auckland team was in Gisborne for two days last week to provide training that focussed on teamwork and communication for nurses, anaesthetists, anaesthetic technicians and surgeons.
A significant component of the training was the life-size simulator that can "breathe", register a pulse at the ankle and wrist, moan, scream and cough. Hi-tech software operates the mechanised model that can be fitted with a severed leg that gouts pulsatile blood. In this scenario, trainees deal with realistic muscle tissue made from latex to find the source of injury and stop the bleeding.
Gisborne Hospital is the second district health board (DHB) in the country to get on-site training. Delivered by Auckland University, the MORSim programme is to be rolled out across the rest of New Zealand’s 18 DHBs over five years.
"Tairawhiti was chosen because it had previously demonstrated enthusiasm for educational opportunities," says programme manager Kaylene Henderson.
"MORSim enables real-life training in real time for operating room teams. This way staff train across all disciplines and specialties. One advantage is you are working in your own theatre environment where you know your own systems.
Specialist medical effects company Medicfx is working with the MORSim faculty to create realistic surgical models. The MORSim programme comes with five or six scenarios based on actual events. These scenarios are part of the 25 that are still in development. A surgical model will be developed for each scenario. A lot of the scenarios are based on unexpected events. Each them is tailored to increase workload.
"This gentleman has come in having been in an enclosed-space gas explosion," says Ms Henderson.
"He lost a leg but he could have traumatic chest injuries. That distracts staff from surgery while they deal with that. We look at how highly trained and skilled teams behave together."
MORSIM: An Auckland University team spent two days in Gisborne to train Gisborne Hospital staff in the operation of a life-size patient simulator that comes with up to 25 surgical emergency scenarios.
Attending to the simulator are Gisborne Hospital theatre manager Sharon Patterson (left), Multidisciplinary Operating Room Simulation (MORSim) programme manager Kaylene Henderson, instructor Jacinta Morrison, anaesthetic technician David Baxendale, nurse Penny Johnstone, anaesthetic technician Nick Roberts and Gisborne Hospital theatre clinical educator and quality coordinator Nicola Atwood.
Thanks for the photo Gisborne Herald.