New Doctors Perfect Skills With Simulation Practice

The old adage "See one, do one, teach one" is no longer good enough.

Resident Physician Dr. Michael Bloustine said this new simulation training is another opportunity to perfect his practice. He said, "It's a very physical activity so you know you can read about how to do it but until you actually get it into your hands and your body, it takes time to develop those skills."

The skill he's working on is inserting a central line. It's similar to an IV, but it's put into the neck. It's a way for doctors to give medication.

Dr. Bloustine said it's used on patients who are critically ill, but it's a technique that comes with serious risks. He said, "If you go in under the collar bone then you can risk a puncture to the lung, in both cases you can risk getting into the wrong vessel."

All this practice is great news for central Illinois patients. New doctors get to work on simulated dummies first - and that's not the case everywhere.

Dr. John Vozenilek said simulation practice is something Peoria is lucky to have. He said, "This idea of bringing the learner to the simulation center to practice before they touch a patient is absolutely critical to the highest quality care."

Not only will it allow doctors to give the highest quality of care, but they can do it with confidence. Dr. Bloustine said, "You definitely worry especially at the beginning, worrying that you're going to harm someone and the only way to know if you've done it right is to do the correct technique."

This training is part of the college and hospital's latest joint venture, the Jump Trading Simulation and Education Center.