Hallym University Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital

A wind of change is blowing in the medical education system. Experiential learning is replacing the traditional apprenticeship system, promoting patient-centered care. Hallym University Medical Center recently held an international conference and a workshop with UCLA Simulation Center on ‘Medical Simulation Training.’ Director Sung Gyun Kim of Hallym Institute for Medical Simulation, Medical Director Randolph Steadman and Education Director Yue Ming Huang of UCLA Simulation Center shared their thoughts about the importance of medical simulation training and its development direction in an interview with Korea Joongang Daily on April 4.

“Medical simulation training is a form of experience-based learning. By making a scenario, learners can practice to deal with a set of circumstances in the hospital,” Dr. Steadman said. “Not only can learners acquire surgical skills effectively through repeated practice, but they can also help themselves to make right decisions,” he added.

Dr. Huang said, “Medical simulation training is not just about learning technique.” She added, “In a hospital, good teamwork, communication and leadership skills are considered important. When multiple doctors do team training, the efficiency in the medical field is increased. Technology improves the effect of education even further.

Asked about the effect of simulation training, Director Kim said, “Simulation training was first initiated to reduce medical errors. Most research findings show that conducting medical simulation training contributed to the decrease in complications, hospital-acquired infections, and a period of hospitalization as well as to a higher survival rate.”

”In order for medical simulation training to be developed further, we need to train education experts and take a stereotactic approach for scenario development. In this sense, it was very meaningful for us to hold the conference and workshop with UCLA Simulation Center this time. Taking this opportunity, we agreed to cooperate in developing simulation training programs and human resources, and share know-how and expertise,” Director Sung Gyun Kim said.

By Hyun Ho Choi, Int’l Cooperation Team, HUMC (dullie1989@hallym.or.kr)