Biotech
Monday, July 15th, 2024 3:55 pm EDT
Key Points
- Purpose and Functionality of SimVET: The National Center for Simulation Validation, Evaluation, and Testing (SimVET) is a $43 million, 53,000-square-foot facility in Orlando, Florida, designed for VA healthcare workers to practice procedures and test new technologies without risking patient safety. It features realistic medical environments, including operating rooms and intensive care units, equipped with advanced mannequins that simulate real patient responses.
- Significance in Healthcare Simulation: Since its opening in 2016, SimVET has exemplified the increasing sophistication and commonality of simulation in healthcare. It serves as a critical resource for evaluating new AI tools and medical protocols, helping to refine and ensure their safety and effectiveness before implementation in real-world scenarios.
- Impact and Application: SimVET has significantly influenced the development of new medical protocols within the VA system. For example, the Lexington VA Medical Center utilized SimVET to develop “code SET,” a new emergency protocol for surgical complications. This protocol is being refined and tested for broader implementation across VA medical centers nationwide, demonstrating SimVET’s role in enhancing healthcare delivery and patient safety.
Inside the state-of-the-art $43 million Veterans Affairs facility in Orlando, Florida, named the National Center for Simulation Validation, Evaluation, and Testing (SimVET), there are no real patients—only simulated ones. This 53,000-square-foot center is the main hub where VA healthcare workers practice procedures and test new technologies without risking patient safety. Opened in 2016, SimVET exemplifies the growing sophistication of simulation in healthcare, aiding in the evaluation of new AI tools and other innovations.
SimVET serves the Veterans Health Administration’s 9 million veterans across 172 medical centers. Each center has a simulation program, but SimVET in Orlando is the largest and one of the biggest in the country. The facility features two fully equipped operating rooms, complete with real anesthesia machines and responsive mannequins that mimic human reactions to anesthesia. These mannequins vary in skin tones, hairstyles, and facial features, some even capable of speaking, moving, and simulating medical conditions like childbirth.
The facility’s environment closely resembles a real hospital, with exam rooms, operating rooms, and educational spaces. Around 60 full-time staff members at SimVET handle multiple projects, offering their services funded directly by the VA. This setup allows VA medical teams from across the country to utilize SimVET’s resources for developing and refining new medical protocols and technologies.
In May 2023, Amanda Borchers, a patient safety manager from the Lexington VA Medical Center in Kentucky, and her surgical emergency team visited SimVET. They aimed to enhance their response to unexpected surgical complications, especially for high-risk veterans with breathing, heart, and circulation issues. SimVET helped them design simulations and connect with field experts to develop a new protocol. Over an intensive week, they practiced and refined their procedures, eventually creating a new medical code called “code SET” (surgical emergency team) to improve emergency responses during surgeries.
After returning to Lexington, Borchers and her team implemented and tested the new code within their medical center, receiving support from their executive leadership. They conducted facility-wide simulations and are now close to using code SET with real patients. The goal is to expand the use of this code to VA medical centers nationwide, with staff from various states already participating in training sessions.
Dr. Scott Wiltz, medical director of the VA’s Simulation Learning, Evaluation, Assessment, and Research Network (SimLEARN), highlights the importance of such initiatives. SimVET’s mission is to allow healthcare workers to “fail safely” and make improvements before applying new protocols in real scenarios. This approach ensures that healthcare practices continue to evolve and improve, ultimately benefiting veterans across the country.
For the full original article on CNBC, please click here: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/07/13/inside-simvet-a-43-million-veterans-affairs-simulation-hospital.html
