Stellenbosch University’s (SU) Faculty of Medicine and Health Services (FMHS) recently opened a state-of-the-art training unit for undergraduate and postgraduate students on Tygerberg Campus.
The Simulation and Clinical Skills Unit (SCSU) has been in operation for around 21 years, but reopened on 3 May with new ultramodern technology, said Sister Bronwen Espen, simulation curriculum designer at Tygerberg Campus.
The new SCSU facility consists of rooms with state-of-the-art medical models and mannequins, as well as a simulated hospital ward with consultation rooms, according to Wilma Stassen, spokesperson for the FMHS. It also has modern teaching venues, which are equipped with high-tech video technology to assist students in developing their clinical skills, said Stassen.
A new Simulation and Clinical Skills Unit was opened by Stellenbosch University’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Services at Tygerberg Hospital on 3 May. PHOTO: Marianne Stewart
“This is not new teaching, but better modern teaching tools being utilised. The venue is light, bright, and thus immediately feels more conducive to learning,” said Espen.
Espen stated that SU is now the first university in South Africa to have ultrasound machines. This will enable students to acquire basic ultrasound skills.
The new facility is also intended to provide more work space for the increased number of students enrolling in FHMS programmes, according to Dr Elize Archer, head of the SCSU. “The increased number of students in our programmes, and greater awareness of patient safety, led to the need for more space and equipment for clinical simulation,” explained Archer.
The SCSU is being used for the training of MBChB students, as well as post graduate nursing, dietetics and physiotherapy students, according to Espen.
Medical simulation as an educational tool
Established educational practices are still being used at the SCSU, but are now integrated with ultramodern technology. This equips medical students with new skills to use in a clinical environment, according to Stassen.
“Being able to learn and practice in a safe environment, knowing that you will not cause harm to a patient, makes it easier for the student to learn. In addition, they can use what we call deliberate practice — that is, receive guidance and feedback on their skill until they perfect it,” says Espen.
Students in the Simulation and Clinical Skills Unit are busy with a defibrillation exercise on a high-fidelity simulator. Each high-fidelity simulator costs around R960 000. PHOTO: Supplied/Damien Schumann
Medical simulation has been used as an educational tool for many years, especially high fidelity simulation, which has become very popular in the last 10 years, according to Espen. This can be attributed to an increase in student numbers, and the challenges that come with placing large groups of students in clinical areas, she added. High fidelity simulation is a healthcare education methodology that includes the use of life-like mannequins in realistic patient environments.
“One of my favourite things about the SCSU is having the opportunity to practice life-saving emergency procedures in an [simulated] environment where we won’t have to worry about compromising ourselves or the patients that we are caring for,” says Azhar Nadkar, a final-year MBChB student at the FMHS.
The new Simulation and Clinical Skills Unit will enable students to learn in a safe environment, without compromising the safety of patients. VIDEO: Supplied/Azhar Nadkar