Key Takeaways:
- The Center for Healthcare Improvement and Patient Simulation (CHIPS) at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center has undergone a major technology upgrade to enhance audio-visual capabilities.
- The upgrade allows students to record simulation experiences remotely and provides improved assessment and self-reflection tools.
- The new system is cloud-based, increasing flexibility, scalability, and longevity.
- The technology enables simulation-based education in locations outside the Memphis campus, allowing students to participate in simulations from anywhere with internet access.
- The upgrade has positioned CHIPS as a leader in simulation-based medical education, with potential for expanded opportunities for students and instructors across the state.
Introduction to CHIPS and its Technology Upgrade
The Center for Healthcare Improvement and Patient Simulation (CHIPS) at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center has recently undergone a significant technology upgrade, enhancing its audio-visual capabilities and allowing students to record simulation experiences remotely. This upgrade has transformed the way CHIPS prepares students for clinical care, making high-quality simulation training more accessible, flexible, and forward-looking than ever. The center, which opened in 2018, has been at the forefront of simulation-based medical education, providing state-of-the-art training for students and residents from all six colleges at UT Health Sciences.
The Upgrade Process and its Benefits
The technology upgrade, which took place over the past year and a half, involved a major overhaul of the center’s audio-visual systems. According to Jarrod Young, director of Operations, Technology, and Business Development at CHIPS, the upgrade was necessary to support medical education by capturing simulation activities, whether it’s manikin scenarios or encounters with standardized patients. The new system allows for sharper cameras and clearer audio, enabling students to review their performances and identify areas for improvement. Instructors can also evaluate clinical competencies with precision, using the recordings to assess student performance. The upgrade has also expanded the center’s reach, allowing students to participate in simulations from anywhere with internet access.
The Strategic Shift to a Cloud-Based Model
The upgrade marked a strategic shift from a fixed, on-site system to a cloud-based model, which has dramatically increased flexibility, scalability, and longevity. According to Dr. Tara Lemoine, executive director of CHIPS, the new system has improved the volume of information that can be stored, enhanced speed for accessing simulation recordings, and better integration of assessment tools and data metrics. The cloud-based model also allows for remote access, enabling students to record simulations and push the recordings into the cloud for faculty review. This has opened up new opportunities for students and instructors across the state, who can now participate in simulations from anywhere with internet access.
Remote Capabilities and Expanded Opportunities
The new technology has enabled CHIPS to develop remote capabilities, allowing students to participate in simulations from anywhere with internet access. This has been particularly valuable for students and instructors across the statewide campuses, who can now engage in interprofessional simulation and access expertise from CHIPS. According to Dr. Lemoine, the technology has created a more robust simulation footprint for learning, allowing students to participate in simulations with students from other colleges and access expertise from CHIPS. The upgrade has also positioned CHIPS as a leader in simulation-based medical education, with potential for expanded opportunities for students and instructors across the state.
Commitment to Advancing Education
The investment in the technology upgrade is a testament to the senior leadership’s commitment to advancing education. According to Young, the upgraded system was retrofitted directly to the center’s needs and represents "the top-of-the-line system that’s available on the market." The commitment to advancing education is reflected in CHIPS’s standing among peer institutions, with the center being included in Becker’s Hospital Review’s list of "64 simulation and education programs to know." As an accredited simulation program since 2021, CHIPS adheres to foundational principles of simulation education, including the use of best-in-class technology.
Staying at the Forefront of Simulation Education
To stay at the forefront of simulation education, CHIPS must continually invest in high-functioning equipment and stay informed about emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and virtual reality. According to Young, the field is always changing, and CHIPS must stay on the front end of assessing what is needed to invest in for the future of learners. Maintaining and servicing specialized equipment also requires financial and operational support, with CHIPS relying on all of its equipment to provide simulation education. The center must keep warranties, stay educated on how to troubleshoot and put in corrective maintenance, or know who to call to get the equipment back up and running whenever it breaks or needs service.
Collaborative Effort and Future Plans
The success of the latest technology upgrade was a collaborative endeavor between CHIPS, executive leadership, and campus IT. According to Young, without all these parties working together, the transition and integration of the technology would not have been as smooth. With the new system fully operational, CHIPS is still exploring how to work with programs statewide to fully leverage the upgraded features and expand opportunities. The center is positioned to continue leading the way in simulation-based medical education, with a commitment to advancing education and staying at the forefront of simulation technology.