Current Events and ASTEC in the News
RESEARCH MATTERS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA:
UA Partnership Trains Future Surgeons by Researching and Creating New Technology
The age-old saying of "practice makes perfect" brings the question in medicine of how to practice the most complex skills in a realistic, ethical and cost-efficient setting.
The Arizona Simulation Technology and Education Center (ASTEC) at The University of Arizona College of Medicine has partnered with the UA Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) to research and design training tools specifically aimed at providing future surgeons the opportunity to practice laparoscopic surgery skills at no risk to humans or animals.
"Simulation allows us to put the practice back into medical practice. Medical education and training depend on advanced technology to provide realistic models for all types of medical procedures," said Allan J. Hamilton, MD, professor of surgery and ASTEC executive director. |
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Current laparoscopic, minimally invasive, surgery training tools have practical limitations, such as inadequate realism and exorbitant costs. Current laparoscopic training models are limited to a few simulated scenarios that take low-fidelity images out of situational context. Other training products available offer far more advanced features with higher quality graphics and more scenarios, but can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Additionally, none of the laparoscopic simulation trainers provide all the data necessary to evaluate the overall effectiveness for the trainees.
The ASTEC/ECE collaboration is addressing these |
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limitations by developing a Virtual Assistant Surgical Training (VAST) system. This research and development is intended to further how technology benefits those performing life-saving surgeries with a more realistic, cost-effective solution.
"Our research is looking at the data from individuals with various levels of expertise in laparoscopic surgery. With this information and collaboration with the surgeons, we can create the technology to provide the best user experience and information output most useful for learning and practicing laparoscopic surgery," said Jerzy Rozenblit, PhD, professor and ECE department head.
Dr. Hamilton added, "With partnerships between fields such as medicine and engineering, the opportunities and potential for developing new technologies for medical simulation are limitless. Using these technologies to train tomorrow's physicians and surgeons will improve the care patients receive." |
It's the Real Thing for Radiology's Future
American Society of Radiologic Technologists Scanner
July 2007 By Teresa Odle
"The critical component of simulation
is practice, which for obvious reasons
is unethical on real patients. And
with simulation, trainees can learn from
errors and retry a procedure immediately.
At Arizona’s SimLab, if the resident
doesn’t get it right, he or she can choose
to reset the computer and start again,
said Allan J. Hamilton, M.D., FACS, professor
of surgery and radiation oncology,
and executive director of SimLab. “You can go back and say ‘I want to start
from this point forward or go all the way
back and start the whole scenario over
again,’” Dr. Hamilton said."
View a PDF of the entire article |
Tucson Mayor tours ASTEC
June 26, 2007
Mayor Bob Walkup visited the Arizona Simulation Technology and Education Center Tuesday, June 26, 2007 as part of his brief visit to the Arizona Health Sciences Center and University Medical Center.
Dr. Rifat Latifi, professor of clinical surgery at The University of Arizona Department of Surgery and interim trauma director, gave the Mayor a brief introduction to intubating patients. With the specialized STORZ fiber optic videolaryngoscope, and coaching from Dr. Latifi, the Mayor was able to successfully practice his new skills on the mannequin.
Alyson Knapp, program coordinator at ASTEC, helped the Mayor to perform a virtual laparospic cholecystectomy (gall blader resection).
The hands-on tour for the Mayor highlighted the technologies available and being used for training by current and future doctors.
See photos of the Mayor's visit |
University of Arizona doctors going global
June 25, 2007-KVOA, NBC, 4
"Doctors from the University of Arizona's College of Medicine are going global. The Arizona Telemedicine Program is one of the best in the nation. And now UA doctors are part of an international project to make health care better in a part of the world which needs it. Doctors and engineers from the Balkans look on as they learn about telemedicine."
View the entire story and video coverage (filmed during Kosovar fellows visit to ASTEC) |
Baby simulator to the rescue
(May 2007)
Phoenix Fox 10 put the baby simulator at ASTEC in the spotlight on their May 15 edition of "Only on Fox."
Connect to the Fox 10 website to watch the video. |
Medical Simulation Hailed as Next Revolution in Radiology Training
(April 2007)
The April edition of The Radiological Society of North America News featured the partnership between ASTEC and the UA Dept. of Radiology.
"The whole scenario, including the
intubation procedure,
was extremely realistic,
said Elizabeth A.
Krupinski, Ph.D., a
research professor in
the Department of
Radiology Research at
U.A. “You could see
the resident’s stress levels
rising,” said Dr.
Krupinski, who
designed the training
with William Berger, M.D., director of
U.A.’s Diagnostic Radiology Residency
Program. Each session is videotaped
and reviewed with the resident
performing the simulated procedures.
The resident then receives more training
to correct mistakes and then repeats
the simulation."
View a PDF of the April RSNA news
(ASTEC article starts on page 5) |
ASTEC highlighted in Telepresence World magazine
(March/April 2007)
The Telepresence World magazine covered ASTEC's use of telepresence equipment for medical education education the article "Telepresence
in the Operating Room."
View a PDF of the article |
Teamwork with ASTEC in the Spotlight
(April 2007)
ASTEC led a mulit-disciplinary training session as part of the Cardiovascular, Pulmonary and Renal Systems block of the College of Medicine's new curriculum.
View a PDF of the article in the April 2007 AHSC Advances |
Tucson Fire Department EMS crews train in ASTEC
Crews from the Tucson Fire Department came to the Arizona Simulation Technology and Education Center and got a feel for the training that ASTEC provides on March 29. TFD Medical Director Terry Valenzuela, MD, along with TFD Chief Dan Newburn, and participants experienced several simulations of both infant and adult patients.
One scenario linked the EMS crew from picking up a seizing infant at home, stabilizing the baby en route to the hospital, and transferring to the care of a pediatric resident. The scenario demonstrated each stage in the emergency treatment of the patient for both EMS and the pediatric resident.
View more photos from the training. |
Pass the
Virtual Scalpel, Nurse
(Aug. 9, 2006)
Surgeons may one day be able to train in virtual
reality, operating on highly realistic computer-generated
organs that they can see and feel. (Read
the entire article) |
Future medical
professionals visit ASTEC with MEDCAMP
(July 11, 2006)
High school students from across Arizona spent four days
at the UA College of Medicine learning about various medical
professions. One stop for the students was ASTEC to see and
learn about the training students and residents receive at
UA.--KGUN 9 (ABC)
View
KGUN news segment of Medcamp 2006 on Windows Media Player |
ASTEC Baby
Shower/Open House
(May 5, 2006)
The newest member of the ASTEC family was
welcomed by medical students, residents, practicing physicians,
nurses and other emergency healthcare providers at The University
of Arizona College of Medicine at the Baby Shower/Open House,
May 5.
The baby mannequin complements the adult simulator
housed in the Medical Simulation Training Lab.
To see the Tucson coverage of the baby, link
to http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/local/11682. |
| High
Tech Medicine
(April 28, 2006)
A new cutting edge program could impact
the way you and your family are treated the next time you
see a doctor. -- Phoenix News 12 (NBC)
http://www.azcentral.com/12news/news/articles/medschool04302006-CR.html |
Girl
Scouts visit ASTEC
(April 7, 2006)
Seven girl scouts visited ASTEC as part of
their tour of University Medical Center April 7. The girls,
all in seventh grade at Orange Grove Middle School, are working
towards their Medical Badge. Link to http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/124260.php
for the Arizona Daily Star story and photos. |
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