The Robina Hospital's Simulated Learning Environment, a collaboration between Bond University's Clinical Education and Research Centre and Robina Hospital, has received accreditation from the Queensland Health Clinical Skills Development Service. It is the first site in Queensland to achieve the highest level of accreditation – as a ‘skills centre’.
The simulated learning facilities are state-of-the-art clinical skills rooms, which replicate the real medical environment through a variety of techniques:
- computerised simulation with real world equipment
- simulated patient actors
- human patient simulators i.e. fully interactive mannequins that manifest physical signs and symptoms such breathing, heart sounds and pupil responses.
Patient safety is a major focus for the Bond and Robina Hospital students and staff who participate in the care of ‘patients’ suffering a diverse range of clinical problems. Their participation aims to improve skills in patient assessment, communication, leadership and teamwork.
Dr Victoria Brazil, the Academic Lead for Clinical Practice at Bond University is delighted with the level of cooperation between the two organisations over the past 15 months.
“Initially Bond and Queensland Health were setup as two separate sites located side by side,” Dr Brazil said.
“However, through working together, we have been able to realise the potential of the facility to achieve better training for our students and for Queensland Health staff. Our collaboration has helped the facility achieve this accreditation.”
Daryl Campher, Director of Simulation for Queensland Health’s Clinical Skills Development Service was impressed with the collective outcome.
“This site is immensely practical for both staff and students,” Mr Campher said. “Training is located within a hospital, in a hospital environment with real-world hospital processes that greatly assists the transition of medical students to begin working with live patients.
“This is also beneficial for the health industry itself, as this will create more skilled, more knowledgeable medical students that can deliver safe, high quality care and to work as members of a healthcare team,” he said.
With the site now hosting a combined 900 hours of simulation every month, Dr Brazil is looking forward to the future.
“This result shows what can be done when health services and the education sector work closely together,” she said.
“This is excellent for both clinical outcomes for QLD Health and for Bond University’ educational aspirations. Our ultimate aim is to improve patient care.”