MEDICINAREBERGET. A new large clinical skills training center where both health-care personnel and students can hone their abilities of carrying out different tasks, learn new techniques and learn how to cooperate across professional borders. The idea has been greatly appreciated on both sides of Per Dubbsgatan and is well on the way to being a joint initiative within Sahlgrenska Life.
The clinical training center is currently operating under the working name of Skills Center but it is not yet determined what it is to be called when it is ready. The driving forces behind the plans for a joint skills center are Anna Nilsdotter, R&D Assistant Manager at Sahlgrenska University Hospital and Lena Oxelmark, Head of the current Clinical Skills Training Center (KTC) and Chair of the Sahlgrenska Academy’s Committee for Inter-professional Learning (the IPL Committee). In addition to Anna and Lena, representatives of several of the Sahlgrenska Academy’s institutions, sections within the Sahlgrenska University Hospital and student representatives are included in the project group for the new Skills Center.
“This is a fantastic opportunity! A new skills center in cooperation between the region and the university for modern education at all levels for all professions within the health and care sector,” says Lena Oxelmark, a view supported by Anna Nilsdotter:
“Both the university and the region become more attractive as employers and as a higher education institution if such a skills center is present, and it should promote both research and development in the future.”
They propose that the new center should be located in the building which is intended to arch bridge over across Per Dubbsgatan, right at the heart of Sahlgrenska Life. They envisage the Västra Götaland region as operating the center with a joint management group which is common tofrom both the region and the university.
Basic clinical skills are the focus
The new skills center may be described as a real expansion of the current KTC (Clinical Skills Center) which is currently frequently used occasionally within several training degree programs at the Sahlgrenska Academy. The skills center within Sahlgrenska Life will become significantly expanded and will encompass significantly increased, as well as more advanced, elements. Basic clinical skills training and training in simulated environments continue to be the focus. Advanced technical skills training may imply surgeons practicing new techniques for laparoscopic surgery using virtual technique, which also will form a part of the center, as well as team training and communication. A flexible out-patient clinic run by students suitable for different specialties will also be included which may also, perhaps, include a simulated pharmacy. The student out-patient clinic may also be used for clinical examinations in accordance with the OSCE (Objective Structured Clinical Examination) model. The HLR center, where health-care personnel and students are trained in heart/lung resuscitation, will also have its natural place within the new center.
Testbeds, where innovations and new ideas for improving health care can be studied in cooperation with the commercial sector, are also included in the proposal. This means, for example, that newly developed products and services can be tested in simulated-based environments as well as new technology and new working procedures.
“We envisage being able to create a complete environment where top class teaching can be delivered and research also be carried out. Here, I’m primarily thinking that our research into teaching methods used within health care can be conducted in the simulated environments, but also other research may be relevant,” says Anna Nilsdotter.
The Institute of Odontology also uses simulation-based learning environments to a great extent for future dentists and dental hygienists. A special investigation is now being conducted, considering how these learning environments will be positioned in relation to the Skills Center within Sahlgrenska Life. Anna Nilsdotter and Lena Oxelmark believe that the joint library, being considered within the preliminary study, should also be placed in close proximity to the Skills Center.
Increased need for simulation-based learninged teaching environments
The need for training clinical skills in simulation-based environments is increasing, especially in view of the larger student intakes. The medical program will probably be extended by a further semester and the need to be able to perform clinical examinations is expected to grow for several degree programs and, for example, for doctors and nurses with qualifications from other countries. For Sahlgrenska University Hospital, the Skills Center provides an opportunity to prepare improve new employees for working within highly specialized health-care areas, as well as to provide ongoing training to care personnel on different tasks.
“We will create both the conditions for clinical skills training and for inter-professional teaching,” says Lena Oxelmark, and Anna Nilsdotter adds:
“It is extremely important to practice communication drills within the health-care team in emergency situations. It is not just necessary for our students but also for experienced personnel who may need to train in order to keep their skills alive.”
As part of its work, the project group has, visited several similar clinical training centers in Stockholm, Lund, Copenhagen, Borås and London.
“The Skill Center we are creating now must operate for many years to come and our solutions must be adaptable. It is difficult to predict how both the training and health care will change during the next ten years to come,” says Anna Nilsdotter, who draws a parallel with the smartphone, which has only been around for ten years but completely changed our lives.
TEXT AND PHOTO: ELIN LINDSTRÖM CLAESSEN
