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OFFICE OF SIMULATION IN MEDICINE AND SURGERY

The Office of Simulation in Medicine and Surgery (SIMS) became a university-wide office in 2019, renovating and re-opening the Colorado RVU Healthcare Simulation Center in the Fall of 2020. Over 16,000 square feet of space in Colorado campus and over 10,000 square feet in Utah campus is dedicated to hands-on and tele-simulation learning opportunities for all members of the healthcare team. Medical and Physician Assistant students gain experience using task trainers for ultrasonography, vascular access, sterile surgical technique, suturing and operating room etiquette. First Responders practice resuscitation techniques, intubation, hemostasis and advanced skills such as cricothyrotomy. General Surgery Residents hone their skills at emergency airways and trauma laparotomies, while Family Medicine Residents improve their procedural and wound care capabilities. Practicing physicians can refine their minimally invasive Laparoscopic and Robotic Surgery techniques. 3-D Virtual Reality modules and hi-fidelity electronic manikins help train critical thinking skills using simulated patients. Numerous simulation events and modalities are being continually updated and incorporated into intra- and extra-curricula of all programs at RVU at both campuses, including Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences, Special Track Programs, Student Clubs and Organizations, Simulated Mass-Casualty Incidents and Community Outreach Events.

Accreditation

RVU’s Office of Simulation in Medicine and Surgery has the distinction of being recognized as a Comprehensive Accredited Education Institute (AEI) by the American College of Surgeons. It is the first osteopathic medical school to receive this prestigious accreditation. Rigorous reporting metrics are involved in the Annual Compliance Report and Accreditation cycles, overseen by the SIMS Advisory Board.

NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

RVU Simulation in the News

OPPORTUNITIES FOR RVU STUDENTS

SIM Scholar Club

Open to all RVU programs.
Students in this club participate in extracurricular simulation workshops using high fidelity electronic manikins, virtual reality, task trainers, and ultrasound machines alongside faculty guest speakers.

SIM Scholar Interest Group (SSIG)

One of the largest Student Interest Groups/Clubs on both campuses is the SIMS Scholar group. These students receive extra training in all modalities of simulation and assist with running Simulated Events. They compete in various simulation competitions, and create several simulated labs each semester. Some SIMS Scholars become Predoctoral Simulation Fellows.

2020 SSIG Leadership Team (Colorado)

President: Brian Johnson
Treasurer: Garrett Florey
Education Coordinators (modality specialty):
- Dellvin Nguonly (task trainers)
- Andre Hernandez (virtual reality)
- Shannon Sturgeon (high-fidelity)
- Mac Iliff (floater)

Please contact Brian Johnson to get involved with SSIG!

Pre-doctoral SIMS Fellowships

Open to COM students
Students accepted as a pre-doctoral simulation fellow will be housed in the RVU Office of Simulation for their 4th and 5th years. Fellows will be trained in all simulation modalities and teaching methods, and are recognized as junior faculty who will assist in the design and instruction of simulation based courses and events. Fellows are able to have more clinical rotations during this time, will complete a research project, and obtain a certification in simulation.
For further information about the predoctoral fellowship and application process, please contact Dr. David Ross

4th Year Surgical Skills Week Mentor

Open to COM students
Students interested in surgery may register for this elective and will be involved in mentoring 3rd year students during their surgical skills week course. Responsibilities may include instrument identification, one-on-one patient role playing, overseeing suturing and knot tying skills, and giving feedback on student presentations.

RESEARCH

The Office of SIMS assists students in medical simulation research including obtaining equipment, IRB submissions, submitting to conferences, and connecting students with local hospitals, police, and fire departments.

Getting Started

Literature Reviews, Writing Assistance, Research Consultations - RVU Library

Simulation-Specific Research

Dr. Susan Carter - OBGYN
Dr. David Ross - Emergency, Military, and Rural Medicine
Dr. Seth Peacock - Emergency Medicine
Kelsey Link - General Inquiries

Methodology and Statistics

Dr. Amanda Brooks - Structural Proteins, Molecular Biology, Drug Delivery Biomaterials, Orthopedics, Antibiotic Resistance, and Microbiome
Dr. Isain Zapata - Applied Statistics, Muscle Proteomics, and Behavioral Genetics

Institutional Review Board (IRB) Submissions

Laura Dement

Conferences and Associations

American College of Surgeons (ACS) Surgical Simulation Summit
International Meeting on Simulation in Healthcare (IMSH)
SimGHOSTS
Human Patient Simulation Network (HPSN) Conferences
Association for Simulated Practice in Healthcare (ASPiH)

SAMPLE EVENTS

Surgical Skills Week (OMSIII) - By the completion of this one-week course, third year students should demonstrate competency in the basic skills of surgery, understand common clinical conditions which require surgical interventions, and demonstrate knowledge in surgical case presentation.

Fundamentals of Clinical Medicine Week (OMSIII) - Prior to clinical rotations, third year students will complete SIMS & Skills check-offs including PPE protocols, BLS/ACLS certifications, simulated critical care cases, suture and knot tying, and prepping for surgery.

Post-graduate Individualized Simulations- At the direction of the RVU Center for Medical Education Excellence, SIMS staff may provide Residents and practicing physicians individualized experiential learning experiences.

STANDARDIZED PATIENT ENCOUNTERS

Specially trained actors, Standardized Patients, accurately portray the role of a patient with a specific medical condition. They provide students with direct human interaction in a safe learning environment. Performing a competent physical exam, taking a thorough medical history, and building a rapport with patients are fundamental clinical skills that all graduates should possess. RVU’s Standardized Patient Program’s primary objective is to ensure that all graduates possess these essential skills. Feedback is given by faculty, staff, as well as the standardized Patient Educators, and is valued by students in their health care education.

Visit the Standardized Patient Encounter Page to learn more.

SURGERY SKILLS WEEKS

The completion of this one-week course, third year students should demonstrate competency in the basic skills of surgery, understand common clinical conditions which require surgical interventions, and demonstrate knowledge in surgical case presentation.

American College of Surgeons (ACS) Free Resources

Instrument Identification Practice

Surgical Simulation Modules

ACS Essential Surgery Topics

How to Obtain a Copy of Your Surgical Competency Certification

Hospitals, clinics, or application forms may request a copy of your surgical competency certification - please email Kelsey Link (CO Campus) or Dr. Andrew Nigh (UT Campus) for a copy of your certification.

SURGICAL TECHNOLOGY

Technology

Acquiring and incorporating various levels of technology every year, RVU faculty often teaches surgical technique using a human-worn, partial task surgical simulator known as a “Cut Suit™”. RVU was the first medical school in the country to employ this technology. The Cut Suit is a lifelike, wearable bodysuit that contains battery-operated, blood-filled vessels and organs, producing the accurate look and feel of actual intra-abdominal and intra-thoracic contents. Learners gain realistic surgical experience and confidence. The Cut Suit™ is also used in simulated disaster scenarios and Mass Casualty Incidents, including at an Intensive Surgical Skills Course attended by First Responders and military students and personnel. Numerous interactive electronic mannikins are programmed for Internal Medicine, Obstetric, Pediatric and neonatal case scenarios and simulation competitions. Cadaveric simulations improve training in numerous disciplines. Increasingly, RVU’s 3D printer is utilized for production of anatomical body part facsimiles.