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2014 Washington Street
Newton, MA 02462
617-243-6000
Open 24 hoursLab Hours and Holiday Hours Vary
307 W Central St
Natick, MA 01760
617-243-5345
159 Wells Ave
Newton Centre, MA 02459
617-243-5777
111 Norfolk Street
Walpole, MA 02081maps
978 Worcester Road (rte 9)
Wellesley, Massachusetts 02482
781-235-5200
Open 24 hours
Lab Hours and Holiday Hours Vary
25 Washington Street
Wellesley, Massachusetts 02481
617-219-1520
9 Hope Ave
Waltham, MA 02453
617-243-5590
Monday through Saturday: 9:00 am to 7:00 pm
Sunday: 9:00 am to 2:00 pm
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The mission of the Shipley Medical Simulation Center (SMSC) is to improve the experience and quality of care our patients receive by providing evidence-based education and training for our staff. Located in the basement of the Ellison Building, the SMSC was founded in 2011 with the purpose of providing comprehensive education and training to Newton-Wellesley Hospital’s clinical staff.
The center is comprised of two patient rooms that are fully wired for audio and video for playback and live viewing of simulations. These rooms can simulate a standard medical-surgical room, a pediatric room, the ICU, or an operating room. The SMSC houses four high-fidelity computerized manikins which can be controlled by an instructor. The manikins can breathe, talk, and have pulses, heart tones, lung sounds, bowel sounds and more to create the most immersive experience possible. The SMSC has many task trainers for clinical staff to hone their skills, such as intubation and paracentesis trainers. In addition to the simulated rooms, the SMSC has two debriefing rooms, one of which has a small computer lab.
Simulation provides the opportunity for learning that is both immersive and experiential. The staff at Newton-Wellesley Hospital are using experiential learning in many ways such as static and interactive manikin simulators, task trainers, and screen-based (computer) simulations. Simulation allows individuals to develop skills, both clinical and behavioral, in a safe and organized manner. By recreating scenarios that are rarely experienced in the clinical setting, our teams will be better prepared and trained in emergency crisis management.
Beyond the impact on individual and team performance, simulation techniques learned in our simulation center provide an opportunity to improve system performance. In addition to practitioner inexperience, most medical errors are systems-related and not attributable to individual negligence or misconduct. Practicing techniques in our simulation center may help to reduce medical errors, improving patient safety.
The SMSC is equipped with four state-of-the-art computerized manikins that display symptoms and signs the same way people do. At times standardized patients and family members are also used to enhance the experience by adding more realism to the scenarios. Each room is fully wired for audio and video, so faculty members can observe students’ performance. The two simulation rooms currently simulate a medical surgical room and a pediatric room but can also be made into an ICU or operating room.
The SMSC is here to help make your next simulation a successful one! We will work with you to design and build simulation experiences that inspire critical thinking, collaboration, and promote learning and growth. We are able to provide many services, including:
The SMSC has access to a wide range of technologies that allow us to create high-fidelity simulations. Several classes consistently use our facilities, including weekly simulations run by our Chief Medical Resident for medical students, physician assistant students, and interns, and Newton-Wellesley's Patient Care Associate training class. ACLS and PALS are also hosted at the SMSC.
In order to make simulations as realistic as possible, the simulation lead usually sits in our Control Room and can observe participants through a one-way mirror and can speak to and hear them using our A/V system. Our computerized manikins can also be fully controlled from this room.
In-Situ Simulation
We can also come to you! Running a simulation on your unit brings a level of realism to the scenario. Much of our technology is portable and can be brought to you. For example, we designed and ran two drills for Cardiac Rehab, where the nurses, physical therapist, dietician, and support staff had to respond to abnormal cardiac rhythms and activate a Medical Assist.
Running drills on-unit allows for full staff participation. It can also reveal potential areas for improvement on the unit itself, allowing for the identification of potential deficiencies in the environment that could be changed to promote patient and staff safety.
The Shipley Medical Simulation Center (SMSC) has two debriefing rooms for post-simulation meetings and conferences. These high-tech meeting rooms feature widescreen televisions and fully networked video playback systems to allow for a full discussion of the simulation and additional teaching to review what happened in the simulation. Trainers and observers can even watch the simulation unfold on the television through the closed-circuit video system.
Life-like manikins add to the experience of the simulation. Healthcare providers are able to train in a safe and realistic environment before seeing the same complication or emergency in our hospital.
Our manikins have many functions that help engage learners such as heart sounds, lung sounds, and pulses. Learners can also perform procedures such as catheter placement and IV access.
Meet our manikins:
Clinicians refine their technical skills through task trainers. Just like going to the batting cages in baseball, task trainers allow for clinicians to practice proper mechanics of a skill and build muscle memory with coaching and corrective feedback.
Simulation, often called experiential learning, is a powerful educational strategy. Participants are actively engaged in realistic situations in order to enhance their learning. Simulation allows individuals to develop skills, both clinical and behavioral, in a safe and organized manner. These skills can then be translated into real-life situations.
The team at the Shipley Medical Simulation Center (SMSC) offers a variety of health care related services that help build a multidisciplinary team. Our physical space is appropriate for product testing, research, and video production.
Past examples of programs offered:
If you are interested in learning more about simulation, or would like to rent space in our facility, please contact ammullen@partners.org
The simulation center is available for rent for interested members of the community. For more information, please contact Ann Mullen at ammullen@partners.org.
Medical simulation is one innovative way that Newton-Wellesley Hospital is helping to shape its practitioners and change health outcomes for patients. Anyone can be a simulation volunteer! If you have a general interest in health care and educating others, our simulation staff would be happy to give you the skills and training you might need to successfully portray a patient for our medical cases.
We are looking for a person who can portray the roles of a family member or patient to help with practitioner development of communication skills and clinical diagnosis.
Specifically, we are recruiting for:
Pediatric cases:
Adult cases:
Obstetric cases:
Please contact us if you are interested in becoming a volunteer!