title: Three years of "CASMS": the world's busiest medical simulation centre.
abstract: Medical simulation is a relatively new teaching modality suitable for medical education at all levels, although its long-term benefits have not yet been validated. Simulation allows the participant to practise diagnosis, medical management and behavioural approaches in the care of acutely ill patients in a controlled environment. Simulators have achieved widespread acceptance in the fields of anaesthesia, intensive care and emergency medicine. More recently, team training for pre-hospital and within-hospital multidisciplinary medical response teams has become popular. The increasing number and diversity of courses at "CASMS" parallels the evolution of simulation centres into regional clinical skills centres elsewhere. Such centres are likely to become a cost-effective means of achieving greater consistency in medical skill acquisition and may improve patient outcomes after medical crises.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Anaesthesia Skills and Medical Simulation, Clinical Training and Education Centre, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia. Richard@pobox.com
authors.forename: Richard H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Riley
authors.forename: Amanda M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Grauze
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chinnery
authors.forename: Ross A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Horley
authors.forename: Neil H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Trewhella
mesh_terms: D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000193:education*; D001296:Audiovisual Aids; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004501:Education, Medical; D004506:Education, Nursing; D006801:Humans; D016544:Patient Simulation; D014904:Western Australia