CIMIT Physician, Steve Dawson Featured on News 7

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. April 2, 2003 - Steve Dawson, MD, Simulation Program Leader for CIMIT, Center for Integration of Medicine and Innovative Technology, spoke with WHDH's health reporter, Janet Wu today about his work with VIRGIL®, the soldier training system. The VIRGIL® training system is a field-deployable realistic simulator which can be used to train Army medical personnel in proper recognition and treatment of penetrating chest trauma. The system concept encompasses a CD-based stand alone training tutorial which instructs the medic in basic diagnosis, triage, and step-wise care of the chest trauma patient, from the ABC's through evacuation and transport of the patient with a chest tube.

After this educational session, the medic moves to the mannequin simulation, which incorporates actual human anatomy from a volunteer, rendered in realistic textured skin, with accurately represented internal organs. A touch screen computer interface leads the trainee through a self-directed or instructor-led combat treatment scenario, in which the trainee must recognize and treat tension pneumothorax, hemothorax, or pneumothorax. The placement of chest darts and chest tubes is monitored in real time and immediate feedback is given to the trainee to show the results of his/her intervention. Correct treatment, minor errors, and fatal errors are all recorded during serial training sessions using unique identifier information, permitting documentation of trainee performance and assessment of competence according to standards established by the supervising authority.