The creation of the simulation suite allows us to run a whole series of realistic scenarios and recreate familiar working environments. This will help our staff to practice and develop the skills they will need in their everyday working life. - Mark Wardman, Operational Education Manager, Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
- Mark Wardman, Operational Education Manager, Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust provides health and wellbeing services for mental health, learning disabilities and autism across the whole of Lancashire and South Cumbria with a population of around 1.8 million people.
The Trust also provides community nursing for physical health across two networks and a range of specialist and therapy services. The Trust specialises in several areas including secure services, perinatal, dental and services for children and young people.
The Trust had an ambitious goal in mind, to create a bespoke simulation suite which would enhance both learning, development, expertise and patient experience and safety. This would be achieved by re-purposing two of the existing buildings on one of their sites.
As a long-standing supplier to the NHS SBS framework, and the Trust, Pure AV was selected as the integrator capable of delivering a solution to fulfil it's needs while working closely with the Clinical Training team.
From the outset, Pure AV worked seamlessly using effective communication and work programmes with the Trust, mechanical and electrical contractor, clinicians and the Trust's training team, which was vital to the success of this project. With the project due to start imminently, a wellcoordinated approach was key to its success.
Pure AV initiated the project by performing an in-depth 'needs analysis' with the Trust's Simulation Project Manager. This included a comprehensive site survey to understand the use-case of spaces, timeline discussions to ensure timely delivery, examining proposed floor plans, demonstrating various types of equipment, and exploring ways to remain as cost effective as possible.
Working closely with a number of key stakeholders including the end users, the fit-out team, Laerdal and Trust staff, a proposal was presented, accompanied by a list of product information and imagery, CAD drawings, elevations, layouts and schematics in order to assist with the decision making process and the Trust's understanding of the systems proposed.
After agreeing with the proposed plan and from previous experience, the Trust were delighted to give Pure AV the goahead to progress with the project.
Within the field of healthcare training, there is a significant focus on practical, scenario-based teaching providing the Trust with safe and controlled environment for healthcare professionals to continuously practice and refine their skills.
From students, trainees to experienced practitioners, simulation-based learning offers an opportunity to bridge the gap between theory and real life scenarios.
The technologies within the simulation environment allow for the recreation of scenarios such as a deteriorating patient while taking routine observations. The sessions are also recorded and streamed to watch back and provide the opportunity for debriefing and enhanced learning.
Within the field of healthcare training, there is a significant focus on practical, scenario-based teaching providing Trusts with safe and controlled environments for healthcare professionals to continuously practice and refine their skills and competence. Leading in many areas to become expert faculties’ and centres of excellence.
From support workers, students and trainees to experienced practitioners, simulation-based learning offers an opportunity to bridge the gap between theory, practice, competence and real life scenarios.
The technologies within the simulation environment allow for the recreation of scenarios within realistic settings such as:
• A deteriorating patient while taking routine observations • The use of positive and safe techniques • Resuscitation • Physical health clinics i.e. Podiatry, Tissue Viability and skills associated with invasive devices • Barricading, ligature attempts and response • Mental health assessment, examination and suicide mitigation • Talking therapies, and patients home environments
The sessions are also recorded and streamed to watch back and provide the opportunity for enhanced learning and development using discussion, debriefing and reflection techniques.
The facility consists of three flexible training spaces. These are a treatment room, which covers both community and inpatient settings, an inpatient bedroom and a multi-use room for different scenarios, each of which contains a series of discreet monitoring devices to allow for playback and review of practical sessions.
All audio and video within these spaces is delivered via SoundTube Dante-enabled speakers, Clockaudio 360 degree microphone arrays, and discreet Axis pan/tilt and zoom network cameras to deliver optimum coverage. Also the function of 'room in use' lights and a communication system are included within these spaces to assist with assessing the trainees via the classroom or control room, this is controlled by an Extron TouchLink Touchpanel.
Over the last couple of years, we have witnessed a significant increase in the number of enquiries for simulation suites. Organisations such as the NHS, are actively seeking the benefits of fully integrated simulation systems. The technology Pure AV offers, not only guarantees excellent image and audio quality but also the ability to ingest data such as observations and investigations in perfect synchronisation. - Tony Crossley, Special Projects Director, Pure AV
- Tony Crossley, Special Projects Director, Pure AV
When it comes to group learning, one of the most spacious rooms within the main facility is the classroom. This room is principally used as a debriefing space and such is the flexibility within the space that it can also be used as a standard meeting space or be transformed into a presentation area for smaller groups.
Within this space, two 86” Philips 4K UHD displays have been strategically wall mounted to provide the best in class clarity for learning. The 4K resolution is particularly useful when showing multiple live feeds and seeing detail on a granular level. JBL PSB-1 soundbars and loudspeakers have also been installed for optimal audio reproduction.
To complete the setup, Extron source controls provide the ability to quickly connect devices via HDMI and automatically deploy content to the learning audience via the two displays.
The simulation system is fully integrated within the control room and classroom to enable real-time observations and live audio communication between the specialised and standard teaching areas.
From the control room, the simulation operator can create and manage clinical scenarios which the participants undertake as part of their simulation activity.
Simulation participants are able to learn individually or within a group while practicing critical skills such as decision-making and communication skills to deliver high-quality patientcentred care. This provides simulation participants with an immersive simulation and reflective experience, designed to improve patient outcomes.
A simulation facilitator can observe exercises through a multi-channel video feed linked directly to the simulation suites, the classrooms, and the control room. Utilising the networked audio system in place, the facilitator can quickly pose questions or ask participants for clarification of their actions in real time throughout the simulation suite.
The system allows full integration with the Laerdal Sim Capture System and simulator manikins, allowing participants to actively engage with various clinical interventions in a safe simulated environment.
Through the Trust's longstanding partnership with Pure AV, it now has access to a wide range of cutting-edge technologies that assist in greatly enhancing learning and productivity for trainees across various skill levels.
The Trust's new simulation facility serves as an excellent example of how various technologies can be used to provide an immersive and safe learning environment, bridging the gap between theory and practice. The creation of the simulation suite has proved to be a vital way to embed learning within the Trust.
The simulation system equipment and the communications infrastructure have both proven to be invaluable tools for the Trust and it's users. As a result, simulation aims to ultimately enhance clinical performance and improve the overall quality of care given within the Trust for many years to come.