June 18, 2014
CALGARY — A state-of-the-art lung simulator is allowing hundreds of Alberta Health Services (AHS) staff to practise life-saving respiratory procedures and prepare them for real-life scenarios.
The ASL 5000 Breathing Simulator is a device that can simulate lung activity for a number of respiratory conditions – including H1N1, acute respiratory distress and asthma attacks – in a range of patients, from neonatal to the elderly. It is used to train clinicians, primarily respiratory therapists, who assist patients who require a ventilator to breathe properly.
“Simulating scenarios in real time gives staff the chance to fine-tune their skills before they experience the real thing,” says respiratory therapy educator Brent Neil.
“Critical lung illness or injury can be fatal and takes a number of different forms. Different lung conditions must be dealt with on a ventilator in a variety of ways. This tool helps ensure patients get the best possible care.”
The breathing simulator, the first in Alberta and one of four in the country, replicates the activity of human lungs, inflating and deflating on its own and mirroring lung activity based on a number of diseases. Clinicians attach a ventilator to the device and make adjustments depending on the patient condition being simulated.
“From there, staff can learn to interpret the information our ventilators give. It allows them to see realistic responses to changes made to the ventilator,” Neil says.
“Every patient is different and every scenario is different. This device gives our staff expertise for any respiratory situation they might encounter at the bedside.”
Previously, respiratory therapists were trained using a plastic lung that could not inflate on its own. Elastics were put around the plastic lung in order to simulate various conditions, and trainees were shown pictures of ventilator screens.
“With a plastic lung, you simply couldn’t simulate many conditions and the patient’s response,” says respiratory services educator Trina Castle. “We no longer have to rely on, ‘If you did this, you would see this on your ventilator screen.’ Now we can reproduce it in real time, a much better learning experience. With this new device, staff get to experience what it’s like working with a really sick patient, in real time, and practise ventilation in a safe way.”
The training program is part of eSIM (educate, Simulate, Innovate, Motivate), the only province-wide simulation program in Canada, with dedicated simulation facilities in Edmonton and Calgary. An eSIM outreach team leads simulation training sessions at hospitals, clinics and urgent care centres across the province in areas such as critical, emergency, renal, operating room and post-anesthesia care.
“Simulation has tremendous potential to improve the quality and safety of care for patients in a number of clinical areas,” says e-SIM project manager Mirette Dube.
“In coming years, simulation will play an increasing role in training the next generation of health care providers and helping them hone their skills for patients.”
Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than four million adults and children living in Alberta. Its mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans.
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