Simulation technology for health care professional skills training and assessment

Changes in medical practice that limit instruction time and patient availab ility, the expanding options for diagnosis and management, and advances in technology are contributing to greater use of simulation technology in medi cal education, Four areas of high-technology simulations currently being us ed are laparoscopic techniques, which provide surgeons with an opportunity to enhance their motor skills without risk to patients; a cardiovascular di sease simulator, which can be used to simulate cardiac conditions; multimed ia computer systems, which includes patient-centered, case-based programs t hat constitute a generalist curriculum in cardiology; and anesthesia simula tors, which have controlled responses that vary according to numerous possi ble scenarios, Some benefits of simulation technology include improvements in certain surgical technical skills, in cardiovascular examination skills, and in acquisition and retention of knowledge compared with traditional le ctures. These systems help to address the problem of poor skills training a nd proficiency and may provide a method for physicians to become self-direc ted lifelong learners.