Houston Center for Advanced Patient Simulation

The Department of Anesthesiology at Baylor College of Medicine incorporates the Houston Center for Advanced Patient Simulation into its training program. The human patient simulator is a very exciting teaching tool based on flight simulator technology, capable of replicating pulmonary, cardiac, and renal physiology as well as pharmacology interactions.

HCAPS combines high fidelity human patient simulation, life-like adult and pediatric mannequins with extensive computer hardware and software to allow realistic interactions and interventions to occur in programmed scenarios. This offers the residents a unique opportunity to develop their clinical skills through participation in a wide range of controlled scenarios.

The goals of the simulation center are to:

• Build confidence and increase performance
• Maintain and enhance skill and mental sharpness
• Provide the most powerful educational tool available
• Advanced crisis resource management training
• Develop individualized programs
• Present the most believable education tool for allied health, physicians, industry representatives, and attorneys

By combining an extensive series of lectures and clinical simulation we hope to build the residents knowledge, clinical skills and confidence, as well as provide hands-on experiences in anesthetic induction, emergence, extubation, the pharmocokinetics of commonly used medications, and the management of life threatening emergencies uncommonly encountered.