Standardized training puts military ahead of the curve - Maureen Leahy
Orthopaedic surgical techniques are evolving rapidly. To keep pace, many orthopaedic residency programs are integrating simulation-based surgical skills training into their education processes, enabling residents to refine their skills and become proficient in procedures outside of the operating room (OR). One program that’s ahead of the curve is William Beaumont Army Medical Center (WBAMC) in El Paso, Texas, where orthopaedic residents have been training on high-fidelity simulators for more than 4 years.
WBAMC is one of the U.S. Army Central Simulation Committee’s (CSC) 10 medical treatment facilities that offer simulation training in 12 specialties, including orthopaedics. Funded through the Army Surgeon General’s Office, CSC was established in 2007 to standardize simulation-based training in Army graduate medical education (GME) programs, assist in redeployment training of physicians returning from war, and improve patient safety.
“The Army has taken the lead in medical simulation training and physician GME,” said Kevin D. Martin, DO, assistant to the CSC chief of orthopaedics at WBAMC. “CSC has integrated high-fidelity shoulder and knee arthroscopy simulators into all the Army’s orthopaedic residency teaching programs. At WBAMC, we have more than tripled our hours of resident training on the simulators and have integrated simulation training into our residency curriculum.”
Gaining proficiency in arthroscopic surgical skills—such as triangulation, spatial relationships, and eye-hand control—involves a lot of practice. At WBAMC, residents hone their skills on virtual reality simulators that mimic a realistic surgical environment. The simulators feature high-definition monitors that provide high-fidelity resolution and two robotic arms equipped with force-reflective technology for tactile, interactive feedback. Simulated procedures are performed with a realistic probe and arthroscopic camera.
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