Development of a new multi-professional clinical simulation centre at the University of Hertfordshire.

Abstract

Simulation training at the University of Hertfordshire has developed through our experience with the “Hertfordshire Intensive Care & Emergency Simulation Centre” (HICESC) that opened in 1998. Recently we have emphasised Inter-professional education as it is expected to help trainees from different disciplines gain more insight into each other’s roles, abilities and enable their working together in clinical practice. Following on from the very positive feedback from students and external participants regarding realistic inter-professional scenario-based learning, the University team have designed a new facility that is currently being built. This will provide a central and modern training facility for our wide range of professional student groups (over 5000 students on pre and post registration programmes) as well as local hospital staff. This major development is due to be completed in September 2006 and will be one of the largest multi-professional clinical simulation centres in Europe with a flexible environment and conference facilities. In its first developmental phase, it will include a fully integrated audio and visual system with 24 cameras, 3 observation rooms, 2 control rooms, a modern pharmacy linked to the different wards, a Paediatric ITU/Theatre, an Adult ITU/Theatre, an Accident and Emergency room, a community area, and a clinical skills/screen-based simulation room. This 500m2 simulated clinical environment will open new training opportunities for our students and make a positive contribution to improved patient care.