Human Patient Simulation Technology
Human Patient Simulation and the technology used to run simulations has become a discipline of its own. Clinicians utilize the HPS's to create realistic scenarios, increasing the level of stress during training to reach that of a real clinical environment.
The technology is a mix of robotics, microprocessors, instrumentation and controls. The integration of this technology with clinicians is critical for training and in order to maintain these simulated patients, a technician must be knowledgeable in more than the individual parts. Holism is an approach of looking at the whole being greater than the sum of its parts. It takes a special type of technician to integrate Biomedical Engineering Technology into clinical scenarios seamlessly. That technician is a BMET.
The photos below and on the next page are of students learning the functions of the human patient simulator
The Human Patient Simulator prior to students getting their hands on him.
The Human Patient Simulator after students has dissected his limbs, circuits, controllers, and accessories.
The Human Patient Simulator is equipped with sensors, actuators and controllers in the arm to replicate many human physiological vitals. Students are carefully removing the arm to inspect these pulse point motors.
This Human Patient Simulator shown is valued at 85k. Very expensive equipment to be training on; However, if you think of how these devices improve the response of clinicians out in the hospital, and how they improve patient outcome by improving training, it is clear that this is a small price to pay. These student BMETs will take what they learn and apply it to hospital human patient simulation centers.