LSMU Centre of Medical Simulation for Students

The LSMU Centre of Medical Simulation opened door in the Hospital of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences Kaunas Clinics. This functional unit of the Faculty of Medicine is operating in provisional premises for now, but already next year it will be established in the Training Laboratory Block (TLB) if it has more equipment and possibilities.

According to the LSMU Rector, Professor Remigijus Žaliūnas, this centre will offer the students a possibility to modulate complex clinical situations in practice without causing any harm to the patient, because the artificial real patients or the objects imitating certain parts of the body (moulage, mannequins, etc.) will be used. “It is good to know that we also have the simulation centre already and that we can work there. It is a big step forwards,” – said Prof. R. Žaliūnas.

The Managing Director of Kaunas Clinics, Prof. Renaldas Jurkevičius agreed with the Rector: “Here the students will be able to test their capabilities in the realistically modeled situations. The knowledge acquired in such a way will help to treat the patients.”

The Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Professor Algimantas Tamelis, who has been endeavoring at implementation of this idea and has supported all the positive initiatives regarding this center’s establishment, also gave a welcoming speech. The sincere support to the Centre of Medical Simulation in the beginning of its activity was expressed by the Chancellor of the University’s Academy of Medicine, Professor Vilius Grabauskas and Vice Rector for studies, Professor Daiva Rastenytė, who also defined the further guidelines in planning of the centre’s activity. The further development of the Center of Medical Simulation was discussed during the friendly and at the same time forceful discussion.

According to the head of the Centre of Medical Simulation, Dr. Arūnas Gelmanas, the simulation in medicine is necessary in order to convey practical skills to the students effectively. The students will be able to learn algorithms and standard sequence of actions quickly and effectively. It is especially important in case of rarer clinical situations. “The center provides the possibility to acquire technical skills without causing harm to the patient,” – added the center’s manager.

The presentation of cases, problem-based teaching and simulators of learning skills have already been implanted in the LSMU Centre of Medical Simulation. The lectures of practical skills have already been conducted to the students. They were working with low-accuracy mannequins, role imitators and mannequins of average reality. The simulation centre provides a possibility of self-assessment of skills; however the professionals also assess the student’s work and give advice. This induces striving for higher level. According to the head of the Clinic of Anaesthesiology, Prof. Andrius Macas, and the head of the Department of Nursing and Care, Assoc. Prof. Aurelija Blaževičienė, the simulator suits for certain study programmes. 'The students of various study programmes are going to study there; however, it will also be of benefit to the organization of higher quality of postgraduate studies. The medical simulation introduced to postgraduate studies of many medical areas should be also applied to teach the students of underlying skills of surgery, obstetrics, anaesthesiology and reanimation, cardiology, pulmonology, other diagnostic and treatment skills,” – said Prof. A. Macas.