Simulation Center
Pediatric Simulation Program
Rahul Panesar, MD
Department
of Pediatrics
Stony
Brook University Hospital
The occurrence of
high-risk, low frequency pediatric emergencies requires in-depth and
repetitious training to ensure favorable outcomes. However, relying on actual situations is an
inefficient and potentially hazardous method of teaching how to manage such crisis
events. Pediatric simulation, therefore, has become one of the latest tools of providing
real-time, hands-on training for the pediatric resident to improve performance
and outcomes.
The
Department of Pediatrics at Stony Brook, in collaboration with the Clinical
Skills Center in the School of Medicine has developed a Pediatric Simulation Program designed
to meet these educational goals.
Given the opportunity to engage in a high-fidelity simulation suite with a variety of ‘mock code’ scenarios, residents enhance their learning, retention and implementation of medical knowledge along with crisis resource management skills, skills that become vital during active cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Currently, residents
are selected every two weeks to participate in a pediatric simulation. The
session is recorded with prior written consent. A faculty member and technician
work together to modify the simulation in a separate control room to promote
real-life changes during the resuscitation. Afterwards, the residents are taken
into a conference room where a structured debriefing session is held with video
and audio replay.
The debriefing session is the most vital
learning aspect of the Program. 
It allows participants to reflect on their
experiences, identify performance gaps in a nonjudgmental, thought-provoking
manner and analyze their performance individually and as a team, with a final
focus on key aspects that were notable to avoid, repeat or improve on.
Future work with the Pediatric Simulation Program includes investigation of study models to demonstrate efficacy in simulation, with qualitative and quantitative data supporting improved performance with pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation and ultimately, outcomes
