Johns Hopkins Simulation Center

The Simulation Center, opened in January of 2008, is used frequently in the M.D. curriculum from very early in Year 1.  Beginning in Clinical Foundations and Anatomy, students are taught diagnostic and communication skills using video assessments. The Center also allows nursing, respiratory therapy, medical students and house-staff to learn and practice procedures “on plastic” before performing procedures on patients, enhancing both the educational experience AND patient safety.  The Simulation Center experience continues through all four years of medical school, as students revisit it during Transition to the Wards in Year 2, during clerkships in Years 3 and 4, and one last time before internship in Transition to Residency and Preparation for Life.

Take a photo tour of the Sim Center

The Simulation Center incorporates five types of simulation including:

1. Standardized patient simulation - This involves the use of individuals trained to play the roles of patients, family members, or others to allow students to practice physical exam skills, history taking skills, communication skills, and other exercises.
    
2. Human patient simulation – This uses high fidelity simulators, mannequins that breathe with breath sounds, heart tones, and palpable pulses. In addition the mannequin has a monitor that can display EKG, pulse oximeter, blood pressure, arterial wave forms, pulmonary artery wave forms, anesthetic gases, etc. Procedures can be performed on the simulators such as bag-mask ventilation, intubation, defibrillation, chest tube placement, cricothyrotomy and others.
    
3. Virtual reality simulation – This uses advanced computerized technology to allow students to learn or practice how to perform cardiac catheterizations, colonoscopy, bronchoscopy, ureteroscopy, laparoscopic surgery, intravenous line placement, and other procedures.
    
4. Partial task trainer simulation – This involves the use of products to learn or practice a specific skill such as intubation heads, central venous line chests, intraosseous line legs or umbilical artery cannulation trainers.
    
5. Computerized simulation uses computer programs that allow the student to practice decision making skills and specific knowledge sets such as Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) trainers and trauma management trainers.

Visit the Johns Hopkins Simulation Center website.