Training
Our directive is to improve patient safety, improve quality outcomes and advance healthcare education by providing a learner-centered environment with deliberate hands-on practice. We challenge learners to employ critical and creative thinking skills. Life-long-learners benefit with more hands-on opportunities for learning. Flexible learning environments can be modified to simulate many types of settings including, but not limited to multi-purpose classrooms, operating rooms, emergency rooms, intensive care unit, labor and delivery room and home & office environments.
The CAPE has the following training tools and services that can be run individually or together in an integrated hybrid model.
A Standardized Patient (SP) is an individual who is carefully trained to portray or simulate all aspects of a real patient as part of a case scenario in order to provide an opportunity for a student to learn or be evaluated on their clinical skills. SPs learn all aspects of a patient portrayal including the patient’s appearance, demeanor, chief complaint, symptoms, past medical history, family history, and physical findings. An SP is carefully trained to not only simulate a real patient in a scenario but also provides feedback to the students, especially in regard to their communication and interpersonal skills. The purpose of using SPs is to give the students the opportunity to practice the communication, diagnostic, and examination skills that they will need before they begin their professional careers.
For more information on CAPE standardized patients, please click here.
Mannequin-based simulations use 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.
The CAPE has the following mannequins:
Laerdal SimMan3G (3 adults)
Laerdal SimJunior (1 pediatric)
Gaumard Birthing Simulator (Victoria)
Gaumard NewBorn Tory (infant)
Task trainers allow repeated practice of a specific skill. Most task trainers are lifelike models of body parts, such arm or pelvis. Others are non-anatomical; they use mechanics or other means to teach biological concepts. Tasks trainers help learners develop both confidence and proficiency.
Task trainers may also be used in combination with standardized patients, for what is called a hybrid simulation; this allows learners to practice a skill while at the same time practicing effective communication with a patient.
The CAPE has a full inventory of task trainers, including:
Airway Management Trainers (4 adult heads)
Pelvic Models for Contraception and IUD Placement
Eye & Ear Examination Trainers (normal and abnormal pathology)
Heart and Lung Auscultation (Adult and Pediatric)
Fetal Ultrasound Biometrics Phantom
Central Line Insertion Trainers
Virtual reality (VR) is a simulated experience that is similar to or completely different from the real world. Standard virtual reality systems use either virtual reality headsets or multi-projected environments to generate realistic images, sounds and other sensations that simulate a user's physical presence in a virtual environment. A person using virtual reality equipment can look around the artificial world, move around in it, and interact with virtual features or items. Virtual reality typically incorporates auditory and video feedback, but may also allow other types of sensory and force feedback through haptic technology.
In addition to the above training tools, the CAPE has various equipment which enhance the simulated environment and offer authentic experiences for learners and teams. The equipment can be an added resource for any simulation project depending on the learning objectives, including but not limited to ultrasounds, IV pumps, anesthesia machines, EKG machines, level 1 machines, and audio/visual capturing technology.
Click here to access our full comprehensive list.
The CAPE standardized patients, rooms, and equipment are also available for rental. For more information about our rental model and fees, please contact the CAPE at cape.inquiries@ucdenver.edu.
Getting rid of medical equipment? Donate it to the CAPE! Click here to donate or fund the purchase of equipment.