Distributive processing simulation method and system for training healthcare teams

• US 6,739,877 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2001
• Issued: 05/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mentice AB
• Original Assignee: Medical Simulation Corporation
• Inventors: Gao, Qiang, Wilson, Dave, Clark, Bill B., Bailey, Bradford E., Yuanming, Chen, Younkes, William E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hughes, S. Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): ADAMS, CHANDA L
• Application Number:
  US09/800,104
• Publication Number:
  US 20020127525A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,176 Days
• Field of Search: 434/262, 434/267, 434/265, 434/266, 434/268, 434/272, 434/219
• US Class Current: 434/262
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/28 for medicine
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/285 for injections, endoscopy, bronchoscopy, sigmoidscopy, insertion of contraceptive devices or enemas
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/04 characterised by modifying the teaching programme in response to a wrong answer, e.g. repeating the question, supplying a further explanation

Abstract

A simulation method and system based on a distributive processing model is used for training and educating healthcare teams. The system allows team members to be at the training facility or located remotely and connected via data communication links. The system allows multiple participants for individual team member roles at various connected simulation workstations. If simulation participants cannot man all the team roles, the system can provide virtual team members in their stead. The simulation server computer delivers to each workstation the particular programs and outputs required for any given simulation exercise.

Claims

1. A method for training medical teams in the performance of medical procedures utilizing a physical artificial patient, the method comprising:

(a) running on a simulation server computer at least one simulation of at least one medical procedure utilizing the physical artificial patient;

(b) applying a medical instrument to a simulation device associated with the physical artificial patient;

(c) sending data corresponding to said medical instrument in cooperation with said simulation device to said simulation server computer;

(d) accessing by said simulation server computer a plurality of medical images taken of a real patient from a knowledge repository relating to said at least one simulation of at least one medical procedure utilizing the physical artificial patient;

(e) displaying on at least one monitor a portion of said plurality of medical images of said real patient in a background of said at least one monitor, wherein said portion of said plurality of medical images displayed is derived from said data corresponding to said medical instrument in cooperation with said simulation device associated with the physical artificial patient;

(f) rendering in the foreground of said at least one monitor a representation of said medical instrument corresponding to said medical instrument in cooperation with said simulation device associated with the physical artificial patient derived from said data;

(g) accessing by said simulation server computer predetermined data from said knowledge repository relating to said at least one simulation of at least one medical procedure utilizing the physical artificial patient; and

(h) distributing to each of a plurality of workstations by said simulation server computer a portion of said predetermined data, wherein said portion of said predetermined data distributed to said each of said plurality of workstations defines at least one team role for at least one participant to play in said at least one simulation of at least one medical procedure utilizing the physical artificial patient;

wherein when said at least one participant strays too far in their responses during said at least one simulation of at least one medical procedure utilizing the physical artificial patient, replacing said one of said at least one participant, by said simulation server computer, with a simulated participant for the duration of said at least one simulation of at least one medical procedure utilizing the physical artificial patient.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said at least one team role comprises at least one of a physician role, a nurse role, a drug dispenser role, and a physician/assistant role.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said at least one participant participates in said at least one simulation of at least one medical procedure utilizing the physical artificial patient from a remote location via a communications network.

4. A method according to claim 1 further comprising:

when a live participant is not available to fill said at least one team role, replacing said live participant, by said simulation server computer, with a simulated participant.

5. A method according to claim 1 further comprising:

storing in said knowledge repository a plurality of metrics received from at least one of said plurality of workstations during said at least one simulation of at least one medical procedure utilizing the physical artificial patient.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein said plurality of metrics comprises raw data of at least one of a time measurement, an amount of substance used measurement, an amount of radiation exposure, a medical team member action, an event, and a test score from a didactic test.

7. A method according to claim 1 further comprising:

displaying an animated mentor on said at least one monitor, wherein said at least one animated mentor provides audio and visual output to said at least one participant at various times on said at least one monitor during said at least one simulation of at least one medical procedure utilizing the physical artificial patient.

8. A simulation apparatus for training medical teams in the performance of medical procedures utilizing a physical artificial patient, the simulation apparatus comprising:

a simulation server computer for running at least one simulation of at least one medical procedure utilizing the physical artificial patient;

a knowledge repository connectable to said simulation server computer for storing a plurality of medical images taken of a real patient;

a simulation device associated with the physical artificial patient;

a medical instrument for applying to said simulation device associated with the physical artificial patient, wherein said simulation device sends data to said simulation server computer corresponding to said medical instrument in cooperation with said simulation device;

at least one monitor connectable to said simulation server computer for displaying a portion of said plurality of medical images of said real patient in a background of said at least one monitor, wherein said portion of said plurality of medical images displayed is derived from said data corresponding to said medical instrument in cooperation with said simulation device associated with the physical artificial patient;

a graphics software module, resident on said simulation server computer, for rendering in the foreground of said at least one monitor a representation of said medical instrument, corresponding to said medical instrument, in cooperation with said simulation device associated with the physical artificial patient derived from said data;

a plurality of workstations connectable to said simulation server computer, wherein said simulation server computer accesses predetermined data from said knowledge repository relating to said at least one simulation of at least one medical procedure utilizing the physical artificial patient, and distributes to each of said plurality of workstations a portion of said predetermined data, wherein said portion of said predetermined data sent to said each of said plurality of workstations defines at least one team role for at least one participant to play in said at least one simulation of at least one medical procedure utilizing the physical artificial patient; and

a virtual team member software module, resident on said simulation server computer, for replacing said at least one participant when said at least one participant strays too far in their responses during said at least one simulation of at least one medical procedure utilizing the physical artificial patient.

9. The simulation apparatus according to claim 8 further comprising:

a simulation device computer in communication with said simulation server computer, for controlling said simulation device and receiving input from said medical instrument applied to said simulation device associated with the physical artificial patient.

10. The simulation apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said plurality of workstations comprises at least two of a physician workstation, a nurse workstation, a drug dispenser workstation, and a physician/assistant workstation.

11. The simulation apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said physician workstation further comprises:

a physician workstation monitor;

a physician computer;

a physician control software module, resident on said physician computer, for providing a user interface for a physician team member to simulate administering treatment and interaction with said simulation device associated with the physical artificial patient; and

a physician mentor software module, resident on said physician computer, for providing at least one animated mentor, wherein said at least one animated mentor provides audio and visual output at various times on said physician workstation monitor during said at least one simulation of at least one medical procedure utilizing the physical artificial patient.

12. The simulation apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said nurse workstation further comprises:

a nurse workstation monitor;

a nurse computer;

a nurse control software module, resident on said nurse computer, for providing a user interface for a nurse team member to simulate administering drugs and interaction with the physical artificial patient; and

a nurse mentor software module, resident on said physician computer, for providing at least one animated mentor, wherein said at least one animated mentor provides audio and visual output at various times on said nurse workstation monitor during said at least one simulation of at least one medical procedure utilizing the physical artificial patient.

13. The simulation apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said drug dispenser workstation further comprises:

a drug dispenser workstation monitor;

a drug dispenser computer;

a drug dispenser simulation software module, resident on said drug dispenser computer, for providing a user interface for a drug dispenser team member to requisition drugs and make said requisitioned drugs available to at least one of said nurse workstation and said physician/assistant workstation.

14. The simulation apparatus according to claim 8 further comprising:

at least one remote location; and

a communications network linking said remote location to said simulation server computer, wherein said at least one participant participates in said at least one simulation of at least one medical procedure utilizing the physical artificial patient from said remote location via said communications network.

15. The simulation apparatus according to claim 8 further comprising:

a virtual team member software module, resident on said simulation server computer, for providing at least one simulated participant in the place of a live participant not available during said at least one simulation of at least one medical procedure utilizing the physical artificial patient.

16. The simulation apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said simulation server computer further comprises:

a metric software module for recording a plurality of metrics gathered from at least one of said plurality of workstations during said at least one simulation of at least one medical procedure utilizing the physical artificial patient.

17. The simulation apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said plurality of metrics are raw data comprising at least one of a time measurement, an amount of substance used measurement, an amount of radiation exposure, a medical team member action, an event, and a test score from a didactic test.