VISIT TO THE SIMULATION SUITE

February 7, 2019

This week we were introduced to the simulation suite, a part of the hospital from which doctors and nurses can practice medical procedures on state-of-the-art mannequins. They are programmed to respond to the equipment used on them, however, can be made to do things using the controls situated within the control room. Not only do they appear to be breathing and have a pulse, but they are also able to make noises and the operator has the ability to talk through the mannequin to the person taking part in the simulation. This allows for more than just the medical side, the doctors and nurses can practice on bedside manner and how they speak to the patients.
Something I found particularly interesting was the way the operator made the mannequins look as though they were suffering from a particular ailment. She would use makeup pigment and latex to add the symptoms, making them seem more lifelike. The pigment adds colour for if the patient is supposed to be injured or running a fever, one thing the latex is used for is adding the impression of flaking skin. In a way, this is an art form of its own and is something people don’t really think much about when they take into consideration what goes on at the hospital, so it was a great opportunity for us to gain this insight.