Simulation technology for skills training and competency assessment in medical education Review

Scalese, RJ, Obeso, VT, Issenberg, SB. (2008). Simulation technology for skills training and competency assessment in medical education . Journal of General Internal Medicine, 23(1 SUPPL.), 46-49. 10.1007/s11606-007-0283-4

cited authors

  • Scalese, RJ; Obeso, VT; Issenberg, SB

abstract

  • Medical education during the past decade has witnessed a significant increase in the use of simulation technology for teaching and assessment. Contributing factors include: changes in health care delivery and academic environments that limit patient availability as educational opportunities; worldwide attention focused on the problem of medical errors and the need to improve patient safety; and the paradigm shift to outcomes-based education with its requirements for assessment and demonstration of competence. The use of simulators addresses many of these issues: they can be readily available at any time and can reproduce a wide variety of clinical conditions on demand. In lieu of the customary (and arguably unethical) system, whereby novices carry out the practice required to master various techniques-including invasive procedures-on real patients, simulation-based education allows trainees to hone their skills in a risk-free environment. Evaluators can also use simulators for reliable assessments of competence in multiple domains. For those readers less familiar with medical simulators, this article aims to provide a brief overview of these educational innovations and their uses; for decision makers in medical education, we hope to broaden awareness of the significant potential of these new technologies for improving physician training and assessment, with a resultant positive impact on patient safety and health care outcomes. © 2007 Society of General Internal Medicine.

authors

publication date

  • January 1, 2008

published in

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

start page

  • 46

end page

  • 49

volume

  • 23

issue

  • 1 SUPPL.