University of the Free State Clinical Simulation and Skills Unit

Clinical Simulation TrainingThe various simulations and simulators include:

• computer-based manikins (human patient simulators);
• part-task trainers;
• flat screen and virtual simulations;
• standardised patients; and
• procedural skills simulations.

Aim and goal of the CSSUThe aim of the CSSU is to provide a facility where health sciences students and professionals are exposed to:

• Training in a safe environment;
• Training without harm to the patient;
• Scenario-based learning; and
• Debriefing.

These aims may lead to the development of leadership, communication, decision-making, situation awareness and inter-professional skills development.

The goal of the CSSU is to expose undergraduate and postgraduate medical and allied health professions students to inter-professional skills training. The secondary goal is to provide a facility for after-qualification refresher and training courses for various disciplines such as Cardiology; Intensive Care, Trauma and Emergency Care, and Continuing Professional Development (CPD).

An exciting recent addition to the unit is the Medtronic and University of the Free State Cardiac Simulation Unit. The new laboratory will enhance training for cardiothoracic surgery, cardiology, vascular surgery, anaesthesiology and multi-professional teams of doctors, nurses, perfusionists and other allied health professionals.

The Cardiac Simulation Unit will not only benefit the training of specialists in various fields of specialization but will also improve patient safety, reduce complication rates and mortality rates. The generous provision of equipment by Medtronic patients enabled the establishment of this unit.

Laparoscopic surgical skills trainingA virtual reality laparoscopic surgical simulator assists with the training and improvement of laparoscopic surgical skills of postgraduate students of surgical disciplines. A simulator does not replace training on real patients, but helps to train registrars on basic laparoscopic surgical skills (depth perception, hand-eye coordination, instrument handling, precision and speed) before operating on patients. Basic laparoscopic surgical skills are trained on the simulator before proceeding to the operating room – easing the steep learning curve to mastery of these essential skills.

The Clinical Simulation and Skills Unit has well-trained technical and educational staff who assist with the planning, development, setup, running of scenarios and facilitation of debriefing.

The unit is designed to handle various assessment options such as long and short cases on simulated patients and human patient simulators, and part-task trainers as well as OSCE assessments.

Contact:

• Head of Unit: Prof Mathys Labuschagne –  assist with scenario planning, train the trainers and assist with the facilitation of debriefing and feedback sessions.
• Lecturers / medical officers: Dr Marankie Swinfen and Dr Tsaletseng Ntsekhe
• Simulation and skills coordinator: Ms Maryna Hattingh
• Secretary – simulation & skills: Mrs Wilmarie du Toit – administrative support. T: +27 51 401 3848.
• Scenario setup officer:  Mr Deon Seitheisho . T: +27 51 405 3104.
• Technical and IT support: Mr Riaan Van Wyk – technical and IT support during simulations and for planning of scenarios.