Stories about: Simulation Program

Reducing cast-saw injuries through simple simulation

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cast saw image for notes blog

Casting is a fundamental technique within orthopedics that is used to fix fractures, help patients with deformities, and immobilize a limb after surgery. For a physician, it’s imperative to not only know how to apply the cast appropriately, but also how to remove it safely.

During cast removal, a cast saw can heat up to the point where it injures the patient by burning their skin. This often results in further, expensive clinical care. But more importantly, it is a painful and avoidable injury to the patient.

Donald S. Bae, MD, an orthopedic surgeon in Boston Children’s Orthopedic Center, is the lead author on an article published in The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery that details how a simple simulation program dramatically reduced cast-saw injuries. …Read More

Paper Trail: Injection drug use, cast-saw burns, LGBTQ bullying prevention and more

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Boston Children’s Hospital is at the forefront of clinical research. Stay connected with Paper Trail — a monthly feature highlighting recently published outcomes data and new approaches to the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of pediatric illnesses.

This edition of Paper Trail focuses on injection drug use and street-involved youth, cast-saw reduction rates, sleep apnea, LGBTQ bullying prevention and more. …Read More

Preparing patients for spinal fusion surgery

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A nurse assists as a spinal fusion surgery patient practices giving a medical dummy an IV drug.
Hands-on experience before surgery day: A simulation of what to expect during spinal fusion surgery.

Several studies have contributed to the school of thought that thoroughly preparing patients for surgery can reduce their anxiety and even lead to better recoveries and outcomes. That notion appears to be corroborated by the first-hand experience of Michael Glotzbecker, MD, a pediatric spine specialist and surgeon in the Boston Children’s Hospital Spinal Program.

“In my experience, patients do better when they are well prepared for surgery,” says Glotzbecker. …Read More

Simulation in clinical design: Testing a building before it’s built

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20150713_CardboardCity-17

How do you go about building a new medical facility that improves upon current workflow and safety but also anticipates technologies and care models yet to be developed?

It’s a daunting task, and one that demands collaboration among all stakeholders: clinical staff, patients/their families and building architects. A workgroup from Boston Children’s met with consultants from FKP architects to come up with a vision for a brand new clinical building set to open in 2022. As part of the pre-planning process, FKP proposed a bold idea: constructing life-size cardboard replicas of clinical areas for doctors, nurses and patient families to “test” with simulated scenarios.

“There are no disadvantages to this approach,” says Uma Ramanathan, AIA, lead architect on the project for Shepley Bulfinch, the architecture firm designing the new building. “If only everyone could use this level of detail!” Shepley Bulfinch joined the simulation project to observe and record data and insights.

“For architects, visualizing space comes easily,” Ramanathan adds. “Not so much for others.” …Read More