May 2, 2023
Nadine Terpstra, left, and Charlyn Stanley, simulation consultants with the eSIM program in Central Zone, pose with a mannequin they use to teach in various healthcare scenarios, at a recent open house for the eSIM program at Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre.
Story by Gayleen Froese | Photo by Tracy Kennedy
RED DEER — Ten years ago, a new way of learning — simulation-based education (SBE) — made skills training and best healthcare practices more readily available to medical professionals across Central Alberta.
“It’s like a dress rehearsal or a football scrimmage,” says Nadine Terpstra, one of the simulation consultants based in Red Deer, as she reflects on their first decade of SBE.
Along with colleague Charlyn Stanley, she operates the eSIM lab (Educate, Simulate, Innovate, Motivate) at Red Deer Regional Hospital — one of 15 simulation laboratories across the province.
Here, learners interact with teammates, trainers and a family of mannequins in a realistic but safe environment. In the eSIM lab, mistakes can be made, discussed and learned from, with no risk to real-life patients.
“SBE enhances other forms of learning,” says Terpstra. “It’s an experiential hands-on, real-time opportunity for healthcare teams across Alberta Health Services to practise real-life clinical situations.” Terpstra adds that working with “real teams under real conditions” uncovers gaps and safety concerns that can sometimes be difficult to spot, otherwise.
As part of the Alberta Health Services’ (AHS) provincial program that’s responsible for simulation-based education (SBE), the Red Deer eSIM team also brings equipment and trainers to rural communities across Central Alberta to share the benefits of SBE. Some facilities, such as Sundre’s Myron Thompson Health Centre, have seen so much value in SBE that they’ve invested in their own eSIM equipment and space.
To share their progress with hands-on learning, the Red Deer eSIM team recently invited Red Deer hospital leadership, staff, physicians and other key partners to join them at an open house to explore the lab. Guests toured the lab, learned about the latest technology and worked with mannequins to experience the benefits of SBE for themselves.
Looking ahead to the next decade, Terpstra says eSIM labs are a great fit with AHS’ culture of continuous quality improvement — so much so that they’re now a regular part of developmental stages whenever a new hospital is proposed. She predicts SBE will play an even larger role in future health education across Alberta.
