Orbital Sound Ltd

Orbital Solves Critical Communications in Medical Simulation Training

Orbital equips Leicester Royal Infirmary's Clinical Skills Unit with HME digital wireless communications equipment.

James McLean, Lead Practitioner Clinical Skills Unit, and the Trust Lead for Simulation at Leicester Royal Infirmary, commented:
"Our facilitators use simulation techniques to provide training for clinical teams in critical care situations, such as accident & emergency, near-natal and paediatrics. The principle is identical to that used in military and airline training, for example – you cannot afford to put patients at unnecessary risk while doctors or other practitioners expand their knowledge and experience of dealing with different conditions or circumstances. Reliable, high-quality communications are essential for our simulation facilitators. We needed a discreet solution, and clear communications lines, to keep the scenario presentations as slick and as convincing as possible. Our communications have to be as imperceptible to the trainees as possible, and the HME equipment has proved invaluable in helping us achieve that – it has performed exactly as promised, and has never missed a beat. Previously, we were pretty much relying on hand signals to do the same job – nowhere near as effective or convincing!"

Each simulation scenario will typically involve a small group of trainees, often qualified doctors within their first two years of hospital work, or specialist registrars and consultants. After an introduction to simulation training in a classroom situation, the attendees are taken to unit's ward area, where the beds, medical equipment and associated facilities are set up to replicate the session's scenario, which lasts approximately 20 minutes.

Following the success of the HME deployment at Leicester, Orbital has also supplied a similar facility, the Bristol Medical Simulation Centre, with the same complement and specification of HME digital wireless intercom equipment.

HME digital wireless intercom systems – exclusively distributed by Orbital to the UK professional audio market – are being deployed by Leicester Royal Infirmary, for medical training communications within its simulation facility. Orbital has supplied Leicester's Clinical Skills Unit with ten intercom sets, comprising HME100 base stations and headsets, to aid team communications during training scenarios.

The simulation training facilities at Leicester utilise military-specification mannequins, which are controlled wirelessly and enable realistic monitoring of parameters such as blood pressure, heart rate and lung condition, and even allow blood samples to be taken. Life-size, and of realistic weight, they enable skill and confidence levels to be tested under close to real world conditions, along with the ability to arrive at the correct diagnosis under pressure – all without unnecessary risk to patients. Fitted with a loudspeaker, the mannequin's "voice" is relayed by a wireless link from whoever on the simulation team is acting as the "patient" for a given scenario. The HME intercoms are used to provide the vital real-time communications links between the scenario director, the mannequin operator, and the patient's "voice", as well as with any team members who may be taking part in the scenario as visible participants, typically in the role of the patient's friends or relatives.

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James McLean, Lead Practitioner Clinical Skills Unit, and the Trust Lead for Simulation at Leicester Royal Infirmary, commented:
"Our facilitators use simulation techniques to provide training for clinical teams in critical care situations, such as accident & emergency, near-natal and paediatrics. The principle is identical to that used in military and airline training, for example – you cannot afford to put patients at unnecessary risk while doctors or other practitioners expand their knowledge and experience of dealing with different conditions or circumstances. Reliable, high-quality communications are essential for our simulation facilitators. We needed a discreet solution, and clear communications lines, to keep the scenario presentations as slick and as convincing as possible. Our communications have to be as imperceptible to the trainees as possible, and the HME equipment has proved invaluable in helping us achieve that – it has performed exactly as promised, and has never missed a beat. Previously, we were pretty much relying on hand signals to do the same job – nowhere near as effective or convincing!"

Each simulation scenario will typically involve a small group of trainees, often qualified doctors within their first two years of hospital work, or specialist registrars and consultants. After an introduction to simulation training in a classroom situation, the attendees are taken to unit's ward area, where the beds, medical equipment and associated facilities are set up to replicate the session's scenario, which lasts approximately 20 minutes.

Following the success of the HME deployment at Leicester, Orbital has also supplied a similar facility, the Bristol Medical Simulation Centre, with the same complement and specification of HME digital wireless intercom equipment.