Human Dummy To Teach Medics

Main Category: Medical Students / Training
Article Date: 23 Jul 2005 - 13:00 PDT

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Human Patient Simulators, designed to teach a new generation of medics about bodily function, will be unveiled at Bristol University on 21 July 2005, during a joint meeting of the Physiological Society and the Federation of European Physiological Societies.

A new way to teach medical students will be demonstrated for the first time at Bristol University.

The new Human Patient Simulators will allow the practical teaching of physiology to be based on realistic, computer-controlled 'manikins'. The manikins can be programmed to simulate abnormal body function, disease processes, and the effects of drugs. Teaching with the manikins will be integrated into existing physiology practical teaching in which students investigate their own (normal) body functions.

Following the award of funding worth £4.5 million from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), matched by equivalent funds from the University, a Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) is being established in Bristol University's School of Medical Sciences.

Dr Judy Harris, the CETL Co-Director at Bristol University, says of the new teaching innovation: "Until now, human-like simulators have been used almost exclusively for teaching in a clinical context. We now aim to extend this by using simulators to teach students about the underlying processes of the human body. Now students in the early years of their degrees will gain far greater insights into how the body works in health and disease."

She added: "There is a limit to what students can learn about by running tests on each other. Now the new generation will be able to learn about complex physiological disorders including specific disease states, such as high blood pressure and asthma, hemorrhage and how ageing and exercise affect the body."

**Demonstrations of the manikins suffering heart arrhythmias and shock will be available for viewing by the press during the Physiological Society's meeting on 21 July. To arrange a demonstration, please contact Fuse PR.

meetings.physoc.org/bristol

What is the Physiological Society?

Founded in 1876, The Physiological Society is a learned society with approximately 2,500 members drawn from over 50 countries. The majority of members are engaged in research, in universities or industry, into how the body works. The Society's main aims are to promote the advancement of physiology and to facilitate communication, both between scientists and with other stakeholders. To achieve these objectives, the Society supports annual meetings, publishes two journals and awards grants to allow members to travel and collaborate. Interaction with outside bodies is encouraged through representation on various councils and committees, and active membership of the Biosciences Federation.

About the University of Bristol

Bristol is the university of choice for exceptional numbers of talented applicants and our academic departments offer a huge variety of programmes. Research of the highest standard contributes to the University's international reputation, it informs and stimulates our teaching and it contributes to the economy of the South West, the UK and globally. In the latest independent assessment of research quality (RAE 2001), 78 per cent of Bristol University's departments were judged to be world class or internationally excellent. Bristol is also one of the leaders in the UK university enterprise agenda, building on research and education to deliver benefit to the local community and the UK knowledge economy.

Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning in Medical Sciences

The Medical Sciences CETL at the University of Bristol will integrate the teaching of medical sciences with clinical skills in an excellent learning environment. It will develop proven teaching approaches in anatomy, physiology and pharmacology to include state-of-the-art models, images and simulations of normal and diseased body structure and function. A major resource of web-based histology and pathology teaching material will also be created. Existing teaching space will be extended and enhanced to include a clinical anatomy and surgical training centre. New equipment and software, including computer-controlled human 'manikins', have been purchased and a number of new staff appointments made.

For Further information on the Bristol University event, or to arrange a demonstration of the mannikin, please contact:

Dan Alder / Blaise Hammond / Vanessa Green on Tel: 020 8752 3200 or email: dan@fusepr.com / blaise@fusepr.comVanessa@fusepr.com

Or

Dr Cherry Lewis, Research Communications Manager, University of Bristol on Tel: 0117 928 8086 or email:
cherry.lewis@bristol.ac.uk

http://www.bristol.ac.uk

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