Skill Lab

Karpaga Vinayaga Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre

Simulation Based Learning Centre (Skill lab)

Simulation is a team based, multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary skills training which mimics real life clinical scenarios within safe learning environments, thus, encouraging clinical practices, improving team work and ultimately, improving patient care.

KIMS & RC skill lab spans over 2000 Square feet and is located on the third floor of college building. It houses an administrative office, two operation theatres, two classrooms, five demonstration rooms for teaching different speciality skills and two debriefing rooms, which allows for multiple workshops to be undertaken simultaneously.

A lab is well equipped with full body manikins and various manikins for practicing clinical skills such as cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, neonatal resuscitation, virtual reality lab, intravenous catheter placement, bladder catheterization, suture procedure and demonstration of labor. Faculty co-ordinators from different departments conduct skill training for varied health care workers (HCWs), including undergraduates, junior residents, postgraduates, faculty, nursing staff, nursing students, paramedical technicians, regularly at the center.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, need based skills training, in situ simulation and clinical scenario-based training is conducted at our center for HCWs including donning-doffing of personal protective equipment (PPEs), oxygen therapy, ventilation techniques & changes in cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Courses offered conducted:

1. Basic Cardiopulmonary Life Support (BCLS):

It trains participants to promptly recognize several life-threatening emergencies, give high quality chest compressions, deliver appropriate ventilations and provide early use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED).

2. Comprehensive Cardiopulmonary Cardiac Life Support (CCLS):

The course builds on the foundation of life saving BCLS skills, emphasizing the importance of continuous, high-quality CPR along with high-performance team dynamics for the management of cardiopulmonary arrest, acute dysrhythmias, stroke and acute coronary syndromes.

3. Oxygen therapy & Basics in Mechanical Ventilation:

Trainees are given up to date training about patients with mechanical ventilation. They are made familiarized with airway devices, oxygen therapy, setting up basic modes of ventilation, non invasive ventilation, weaning procedures and understanding the care required for such patients.

4. Virtual Reality Skill Training:

This state-of-the-art technology covers huge range of medical concepts in a highly interactive and insightful 3D format. It provides an experiential learning environment by providing an immersive experience combined with assessments and detailed feedback which ensures better and faster learning.

     5. Multiple clinical departments utilize the lab to ensure students receive simulation-based training in medical skills such-

1. Parenteral route administration (IV and IM route): Department of pharmacology conducts OSPE sessions to train the students for parenteral drug administration by using mannequins
2. Intravenous line catheterization: All participants are provided hands-on-training using mannequins and were trained in blood sampling and intravenous catheterization.
3. Regular classes are held by surgical departments for MBBS interns, surgical postgraduates & staff nurses in preparation for surgeries – handwashing, donning of gloves & surgical gowns, draping, suturing skills et al.
4. The Department of Surgery regularly holds suturing and bladder catheterization workshops for MBBS CRRIs and postgraduates. They also train postgraduates in skills required for laparoscopic surgery on specialized equipment.
5. The Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology has taken classes in clinical relevant topics like conduction of labour, mechanism of Caesarean Section, management of post-partum haemorrhage for MBBS students as well as their postgraduates.
6. The Department of Paediatrics has been training MBBS students in neonatal, infant & paediatric resuscitation.
7. The Department of Orthopaedics has held classes for assessment & stabilization of fracture, use of orthopaedic surgical devices & placement of orthopaedic implants for MBBS students as well as their postgraduates.
8. The Department of Physiology has conducted classes for 1^st year MBBS students in clinical examination on manikins.

During Covid time, as per NMC advisory, team of clinical department faculty and skill lab faculty trained all clinical faculty, postgraduates, CRRIs, staff nurses & technicians in oxygen therapy and ventilator management. They were introduced to all pertinent guidelines regarding patient management, from prophylaxis to identification of cases, diagnosis & management of all types of patients (including but not limited to pediatric, obstetric, geriatric) and post Covid rehabilitation as well.

Our skill lab is accredited by Indian Resuscitation Council Federation (IRCF) as a Comprehensive Resuscitation Training Centre (CRTC) to conduct IRCF certified Compression Only Life Support (COLS) and Basic & Comprehensive Cardiopulmonary Life Support (BCLS& CCLS) courses. All the faculty, postgraduates, MBBS & BDS CRRIs, staff nurses, undergraduates, nursing & allied health sciences (AHS) students will be trained and get a 2-year valid certificate.