LSMU in the Same Line With the World’s Achievers: Real Training With the Help of Simulation

The teaching simulators of practical skills and mannequins made by company Laerdal Medical, one of the top leaders of the world, are installed in the Teaching Laboratory Block (TLB) of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU). The reconstruction of reality and transfer of real clinical situations to the environment that does not cause harm to the patient makes the simulation an especially significant stage of studying that can provide the necessary skills and experience.  

In the report of the Medical Institute of the United States of America ‘To Err is Human’, it is stated that even the smallest mistake of the medical person can move the death closer. Recently, patient safety has become the core priority both in Lithuania and the entire world. Patient safety is ensured by professional work of the medical specialists, sense of responsibility and competences. Clinical skills, continuous learning and repetition also play a key role. The simulation method – reconstruction of real situations – has been becoming the most effective practical tool to imitate the clinical practice recently.

As it has been noticed by the developers of the leading simulation equipment Laerdal Medical, simulation is not just a technology: simulation is a teaching method that allows testing the interactive training and team work through the real scenarios without causing hazard to the patient. According to the manager of Medical Simulation Centre, Dr. Arūnas Gelmanas, what is virtual is not unreal. Simulation is a reality, or in other words, the situation is real, the actions are real, the only item that is not real is a patient. Simulation is the only method that allows working actually and learning at the same time. This process encourages students to empathize with the complexity of the situation, to make prompt difficult decisions, and to save lives. It is especially important in case of rare clinical situations.

The LSMU Medical Simulation Centre is under establishment in the new premises of the Teaching Laboratory Block (TLB), where the simulation equipment of the global leader Laerdal Medical has been installed. The teaching simulators and mannequins are set in several modern premises. The LLEAP software has been installed for the work with SimMom, SimMan Essential and ALS Sim. It allows controlling all the mannequins applying the single standard, storing and reviewing teaching sessions, using the recorded material for discussions, etc. The 3-day training course for the representatives of LSMU Medical Simulation Centre, Clinic of Anaesthesiology, Department of Disaster Medicine, Department of Nursing and Care, Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and Clinic of Intensive Care was read by Norwegian guest Berge Solheim, who is the manager of Technical Assistance of Laerdal Medical for Europe, Near East and Africa. According to instructor Berge Solheim, ‘The simulation studies contribute to saving the lives, which is confirmed by carefully collected statistics’.

Now the LSMU students, residents of various specialties and the medical doctors who already practice medicine will have a possibility to learn and to solve the situation actually. According to Dr. Arūnas Gelmanas, ‘People leave simulation courses in sweat and having a more frequent heart rate’. This proves the sense of reality and activation of stress. Only the course participants who really experience the clinical practice will gain priceless experience that will help to save lives. 

Jurgita Miciulevičiūtė-Smeu