An open source hardware and software platform for veterinary immersive simulation training

Abstract

“Immersive” technology conveys the sense that participants are being immersed in a task or setting as they would if it were the real world. The benefits of immersive simulation are well documented in human medicine, and a robust industry producing a range of high fidelity human patient simulators (HPS) has resulted. HPS can be programmed to progress through a series of states determined by learner interventions, providing a realistic clinical environment in which trainees can explore treatment options, receive direct feedback from the HPS, and learn from mistakes in a safe environment. There are no comparable simulators on the veterinary market, and HPS are extremely expensive. To supply in this need a robust, expandable veterinary clinical simulation platform using Open Source software and off-the-shelf hardware was developed. This will be made available at no cost to the veterinary education community. The current design is a canine simulator with palpable pulses, auscultable heart and lung sounds and chest movements to mimic spontaneous respiration and sensors to detect positive pressure breaths and chest compressions. A patient monitor (ECG and end-tidal CO2 waveforms, and pulse oximetry, blood pressure and temperature displays) is provided to the learner. The instructor interface is accessible on any computer or mobile device and allows on-the-fly alterations in patient state and management of pre-programmed clinical scenarios. A companion web site will allow sharing of scenarios and extensions to the base functionality through an open source community, affording access to this powerful pedagogical approach to clinical training to a much broader audience than previously possible.