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 Incoming anesthesiology residents in their clinical base (internship) year, in late spring, spend five sessions in the PSL. Here they learn and practice skills critical to their early development as anesthesiologists. They master the FDA-recommended anesthesia system checkout and preparation of the operating suite for a basic anesthetic. They practice general anesthesia induction choreography, and perform the maintenance and emergence of a general anesthetic, as well as manage a number of critical anesthetic occurrences in the simulation lab, all before even starting the anesthesiology portion of their residencies, and without risk to a single patient.
Each resident participates in a one-week simulation curriculum, some in each CA year (CA-1, CA-2, and CA-3), in groups of three to four per week. Learning and mastering concepts of crisis resource management are key components of this week. Additionally, the anesthetic and medical management of infrequently-encountered critical events, such as malignant hyperthermia, anesthetic management of subarachnoid hemorrhage in a septic patient, tension pneumothorax, and many others, are applied in the simulated patient. Many technical skills, such as management of the difficult airway, are also developed by participants during this curriculum.
All CA-3 residents have the option of an elective Patient Simulation Laboratory month, during which they have opportunity to teach many types of PSL learners. Each CA-3 rotator also develops a senior project during the month, usually a new teaching scenario, or helps with research projects.
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