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charlene · 08-01-2008, 11:15 PM

Like a flight simulator for hospitals
Aug 01, 2008 04:30 AM

Carol Goar

Summer jobs don't get much better than this.

A team of six students from different faculties at the University of Toronto has spent the past nine weeks developing Pulse Check, an online emergency room simulator – a glorified video game – that allows doctors, medical students and hospital managers to test changes in procedures, technology and staffing without putting patients' lives at risk.

They can see what works – and what backfires – as they attempt to shorten wait times, reduce overcrowding and improve patient care.

"Pilots don't learn how to fly in stormy weather. They do it in a flight simulator. This is the same idea," says medical student Kelly Emms, a member of the design team.

The project was the brainchild of Dr. Dante Morra, medical director of the Centre for Innovation in Complex Care at the University Health Network, and Dr. Brian Golden, chair of the Centre for Health Sector Strategy at the Rotman School of Management.

They recruited six top students – two industrial designers, an engineer, a doctor working toward his MBA, a social worker and a medical student – and told them to use their skills, their training and their imagination to turn the concept into a reality by the end of July.

None of the students knew each other at the outset. Some weren't even sure what a change simulator was. But they tackled their task with enthusiasm and a deadline-driven sense of urgency.

They began by figuring out what each person brought to the table and agreeing that, while there would be differences of opinion and approach, they wouldn't allow any conflict to become personal.

"Teamwork is hard. We did have arguments about how to do things, but there was no rivalry," Emms says. "And we had mentors. Dr. Morra was there every day."

A software company, ExperiencePoint, was also on hand to coach the students on game-creation. The firm specializes in computer simulations for business decision-making.

Once the project began, time flew. "It was nine weeks of craziness," Emms says. "I looked at my calendar and said: `Where did July go?'"

Yesterday, the students officially unveiled Pulse Check at Toronto General Hospital. Today, the team disbands.

But the friendships will last. The lessons in interdisciplinary co-operation will last. And the simulator will certainly last.

ExperiencePoint plans to sell it to health-care institutions around the world. The students won't get any royalties, but they're all fine with that. They didn't invent the game to make money.

There will be other paybacks. Next year, Pulse Check will be introduced into the third-year medical curriculum at the University of Toronto. The Mayo Clinic has expressed an interest. Word is spreading through the health-care community that innovative things are happening at the University Health Network.

As their last collective act, the students decided to showcase their creation. They were eager to let people try it, meet the virtual characters and see how each decision triggers a chain of consequences, some intended, some not.

A game takes about three hours. It begins with sirens wailing. A stroke patient almost dies waiting in the emergency room. The chief executive officer of the hospital comes onscreen and says: "You've been hired to this fix this."

Resources are limited. There are no empty beds or spare nurses. But there are 50 options, which can be tried in any combination.

The video is meant for teams of doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, hospital administrators and social workers. The objective is to come up with a strategy that speeds up admissions, provides high-quality care and wins the support of management, the medical staff and the board.

"Web-based simulations are an excellent educational tool," Golden says. "Students are able to grasp complicated concepts in a short amount of time."

They're also fun. Almost no one would say that about introducing change into a rigidly structured hospital. It is one of the hardest organizational challenges there is.

Pulse Check will make the job easier. But it is just a tool. Health-care leaders will have to supply the judgment and humanity.

08-01-2008, 11:15 PM	#16
charlene Moderator Join Date: May 2000 Posts: 16,001	Re: Canada's Health Care Like a flight simulator for hospitals Aug 01, 2008 04:30 AM Carol Goar Summer jobs don't get much better than this. A team of six students from different faculties at the University of Toronto has spent the past nine weeks developing Pulse Check, an online emergency room simulator – a glorified video game – that allows doctors, medical students and hospital managers to test changes in procedures, technology and staffing without putting patients' lives at risk. They can see what works – and what backfires – as they attempt to shorten wait times, reduce overcrowding and improve patient care. "Pilots don't learn how to fly in stormy weather. They do it in a flight simulator. This is the same idea," says medical student Kelly Emms, a member of the design team. The project was the brainchild of Dr. Dante Morra, medical director of the Centre for Innovation in Complex Care at the University Health Network, and Dr. Brian Golden, chair of the Centre for Health Sector Strategy at the Rotman School of Management. They recruited six top students – two industrial designers, an engineer, a doctor working toward his MBA, a social worker and a medical student – and told them to use their skills, their training and their imagination to turn the concept into a reality by the end of July. None of the students knew each other at the outset. Some weren't even sure what a change simulator was. But they tackled their task with enthusiasm and a deadline-driven sense of urgency. They began by figuring out what each person brought to the table and agreeing that, while there would be differences of opinion and approach, they wouldn't allow any conflict to become personal. "Teamwork is hard. We did have arguments about how to do things, but there was no rivalry," Emms says. "And we had mentors. Dr. Morra was there every day." A software company, ExperiencePoint, was also on hand to coach the students on game-creation. The firm specializes in computer simulations for business decision-making. Once the project began, time flew. "It was nine weeks of craziness," Emms says. "I looked at my calendar and said: `Where did July go?'" Yesterday, the students officially unveiled Pulse Check at Toronto General Hospital. Today, the team disbands. But the friendships will last. The lessons in interdisciplinary co-operation will last. And the simulator will certainly last. ExperiencePoint plans to sell it to health-care institutions around the world. The students won't get any royalties, but they're all fine with that. They didn't invent the game to make money. There will be other paybacks. Next year, Pulse Check will be introduced into the third-year medical curriculum at the University of Toronto. The Mayo Clinic has expressed an interest. Word is spreading through the health-care community that innovative things are happening at the University Health Network. As their last collective act, the students decided to showcase their creation. They were eager to let people try it, meet the virtual characters and see how each decision triggers a chain of consequences, some intended, some not. A game takes about three hours. It begins with sirens wailing. A stroke patient almost dies waiting in the emergency room. The chief executive officer of the hospital comes onscreen and says: "You've been hired to this fix this." Resources are limited. There are no empty beds or spare nurses. But there are 50 options, which can be tried in any combination. The video is meant for teams of doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, hospital administrators and social workers. The objective is to come up with a strategy that speeds up admissions, provides high-quality care and wins the support of management, the medical staff and the board. "Web-based simulations are an excellent educational tool," Golden says. "Students are able to grasp complicated concepts in a short amount of time." They're also fun. Almost no one would say that about introducing change into a rigidly structured hospital. It is one of the hardest organizational challenges there is. Pulse Check will make the job easier. But it is just a tool. Health-care leaders will have to supply the judgment and humanity.