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Yesterday,
Stan D. Ardman died at the hands of medical students. He will probably
die again tomorrow. That’s because Stan,
short for Standard Man, is actually a human patient simulator developed
by Medical Education Technologies Inc. (METI) to improve the way
medicine is taught.
Stan and other amazing medical education
tools are revolutionizing the way institutions train physicians
by providing sound, cost-effective, and humane alternatives to
the use of animals. Features of individual simulators vary, but
they all allow students to practice life-saving procedures without
harming human patients or animals.
 Standard Man
In 2004, Forbes magazine referred to Standard Man as the “perfect
patient.” Capable of simulating cardiovascular, pulmonary, and metabolic
characteristics and responses down to the flutter of an eyelid, Stan reacts appropriately
to more than 55 different drugs. And he’s not afraid to speak up if he’s
in pain! Possibly the most realistic simulator available today, METI’s
human patient simulator costs $160,000 to $200,000, depending on features. With
this investment, medical schools avoid the repeated costs of animal laboratories,
while students can review educational material as often as they like—something
animal laboratories could not offer. Find more details at www.Meti.com.
SimMan
SimMan, a full patient simulator created by Laerdal, provides a
wide variety of realistic scenarios in patient care. SimMan ranges
from $23,000 to $40,000, depending on accessories and modules. For
more information, visit www.Laerdal.com.
Harvey
Perhaps the most mature patient of the bunch, Harvey was developed
by the University of Miami in 1968. Since then, this cardiac
patient simulator has lost about 600 pounds and acquired many
advanced features. Capable of imitating 30 different conditions,
Harvey includes self-evaluation programs for study without an
instructor. Transmitters, receivers, and video cameras allow
larger groups to participate from remote offices, lecture halls,
or classrooms. Including shipping, Harvey costs about $53,000.
For more information, visit http://crme.med.miami.edu.
Other Surgery Training Tools
Other, less costly, simulators help students train to perform endoscopic
and laparoscopic surgery. Examples include Meti’s SurgicalSIM
and Immersion Medical’s Laparoscopy Surgical Workstation.
Both tools allow the user to practice the skills of a laparoscopic
surgeon—without a patient present.
 Mastering the Basics
Several computer programs illustrate basic principles of physiology
and pharmacology that are emphasized in the first two years of
medical education. These programs resemble the screens of monitors
commonly found in operating rooms. With the click of a button,
students can administer drugs and observe physiological responses.
Suppliers include A.D.A.M. (www.adam.com), Critical
Concepts (www.critcon.com), COACS (www.coacs.com),
and Biosoft (www.biosoft.com).
Skin Models
Although even fourth-year medical students will not be expected
(or allowed) to perform human surgeries without additional training,
they should be ready to suture wounds. Artificial models of human
skin are now replacing pigs’ feet and other slaughterhouse
byproducts for suturing practice. Available models include a
range of artificial tissue layers, including subcutaneous fat
and muscle. For a list of companies providing skin models, please
contact research@pcrm.org.
It should be acknowledged
that most medical schools that eliminate animal laboratories
from their curricula do so without any special alternative. They
have found that lectures and reading materials convey the same
physiological knowledge that animal laboratories were designed
to illustrate. Similarly, clinical years provide ample opportunities
for suture practice without animals. Even so, schools aiming
for high-tech education will find that excellent educational
products are readily available.
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