Virtual Defibrillator Simulators are crucial for the success of any medical simulation program involving the potential crash of a patient. The defibrillator is a critical yet often intimidating piece of resuscitation equipment for many healthcare professionals. In the clinical simulation environment, a defibrillator is often a piece of equipment for which there are many debrief points gained in a scenario. An option for clinical simulation participants to upskill virtually in this vital piece of equipment prior to a healthcare simulation experience or to refresh prior to clinical shifts is incredibly useful for many. This article by Erin Carn-Bennett, MSN, RN will explore the concept and resource of the virtual and online defibrillator simulator and game websites which may be of use to the clinical simulation participant.
EKG Games by kybaylorThe games on the EKG website were designed to assist and enhance an EKG Technician Program with areas of use to study and address common challenges. There are 28 games for many subjects that relate to cardiology anatomy, physiology and EKG study topics. This could be incredibly valuable for junior healthcare professionals and students to increase knowledge on these topics in a fun and game based manner prior to then moving onto the use of the defibrillator in the virtual simulator or clinical space.
The PhysioControl and Virtual Stryker Lifepak 20e Defibrillator Simulator is a virtual simulator which responds to use online. This allows participants to be able to learn how the Lifepak 20e defibrillator works and to practice sequence of events in order to be able to defibrillate patients effectively through interaction with the virtual defibrillators functions and accessories. These are the same as the defibrillator used for clinical care.
The Lifepak Virtual Simulator has three different components. These include an interactive explanation of the defibrillator’s features and accessories in the virtual environment. There are case-based tutorials which guide the virtual simulation participant through the management of different virtual case scenarios. The Lifepak virtual simulator cases include: defibrillation, synchronized cardioversion and transcutaneous pacing.
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The series of cases are designed to test the virtual simulator participants ability to be able to use the virtual defibrillator to correct cardiac rhythm disturbances in a timely manner. After completion of the introductory module the virtual simulation participant can proceed to the case-based tutorial and then to the test cases. The participant must complete test cases to be able to receive credit for the completion of this course.
Contributors to the Lifepak Virtual Simulator include: Joshua Ferge, University of Colorado, Boulder CO, Kathleen M. Ventre, MD University of Colorado, Denver CO, Anne Brenneman MSN, CPNP Primary Children’s Hospital, Salt Lake City UT.
A team based at the University of Florida’s Center for Safety, Simulation & Advanced Learning Technologies (CSSALT), was awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Innovators Network in order to develop an interactive virtual defibrillator simulator for clinicians who need to master how to use a manual external defibrillator. This project has been led by Chris Samouce, Ph.D., assistant scientist in the UF Department of Anesthesiology.
The CSSALT virtual defibrillator simulator has three learning modules and has been based on resuscitation equipment used currently in the VA health system. The virtual defibrillator simulator teaches and reinforces clinical skills required in order to operate defibrillators in the operating room environment. Even though the CSSALT simulator has been developed for initial use within the VA, the online format opens the opportunity to expand this resource more broadly.
The interactive virtual defibrillator simulator by CSSALT has the ability for participants to click, and drag the virtual defibrillator electrode pads and place them on the skin of a 3D virtual patient.Three main learning objectives are covered by the CSSALT virtual defibrillator which includes: operation of a defibrillator to perform synchronized cardioversion, defibrillation, and transcutaneous pacing when clinically indicated. The ECG in the virtual defibrillator simulator cases include: normal sinus rhythm, atrial fibrillation (AFIB), ventricular fibrillation (VFIB), and third-degree heart block. The virtual defibrillator simulator participants can alter current, pacing rate, energy used for shock, and the mode of the defibrillator and observe the effects of their actions.
AED Sim Phone App Virtual Defibrillator Simulator
The AED Sim application available from the Apple store is an accurate virtual simulation of an AED (Automatic External Defibrillator). There are realistic voice prompts, button clicks, sound effects, graphics, animations and flashing lights present in the cell phone app. There are also LED displays of instructions, number of shocks present, and a CPR countdown timer. A CPR metronome provides noise effects to encourage compressions to be completed at 100, 105, or 110 beats per minute.
There is a scenario editor that allows for both custom and random scenarios to be built into the application. All of the prompts, messages, timing, and voices have the ability to be customized. Users can have the ability to change any message or voice prompt to match any AED from different environments. This also allows the user to be able to be provided with backgrounds, sound effects, and even metronomes.
The AED Sim app adheres to 2020 CPR Guidelines and the universal app is also supported by iPad. At a price of $2.49USD this is very reasonable and accessible for many. Defibrillation is the definitive treatment and the ability to know how to use an AED is an important clinical skill for firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, nurses, doctors and also the general public. The AED Sim app gives users the ability to be able to experience, refresh and upskill with the use of an AED without the need for access to a live machine or defibrillator trainer.
The AED Sim app has an inbuilt scenario editor which allows users to create custom scenarios or generate random scenarios for the user also. The AED sim app removes the requirement for expensive AED trainers. The AED Sim app was designed and created by a former Canadian paramedic with 20 years of software development experience.
This article has discussed cardiac physiology based games and also virtual defibrillator simulators which are available for use online. A virtual simulator of a defibrillator is incredibly useful for clinical simulation participants to be able to refresh their clinical skills in this area and to then be able to attend to clinical patients and healthcare simulation scenarios upskilled in defibrillation.
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