The Simulation Group receives the Edward M. Kennedy Award for Health Care Innovation at CIMIT's 5th Annual Stakeholder Briefing

BOSTON, Nov 10, 2003 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The Edward M. Kennedy Award for Health Care Innovation was presented at CIMIT's 5th Annual Stakeholder Briefing to the CIMIT Simulation Group, headed by Steve Dawson, MD. Their team has received worldwide recognition for innovative education and training methods that have focused on patient safety and physician training. CIMIT director and co-founder John A. Parrish, MD, presented the award on behalf of Senator Kennedy. In doing so he noted: "The award this year goes to a team that has met the needs of our patients and clinicians here in Boston and around the world. They produce at a pace not thought possible bymany, providing prototype products on time and on budget that are used for both iers and civilians."

Dr. Dawson and his team have leveraged technological advances in computer science, mathematics, applied engineering, and educational assessment to design and validate innovative methods of medical learning. Just as airline pilots use simulators to learn to fly a plane, Dr. Dawson realized that similar technology is valuable to train medical personnel. Here are some of their innovations: Training Physicians Through Simulation

The group devised a computer-based system for measuring laparoscopic surgery skills that is being validated at various Boston hospitals and will be used at Hershey Medical Center in Pennsylvania. This new system builds on the success of an earlier program; team members provided a simulator on which more than 4,000 physicians have been trained in cardiac catheter techniques.

Chest Tube Insertion Training The team has also devised The VIRGIL(TM) Chest Trauma Training System. Although VIRGIL was initially designed for the Department of Defense and validated at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) today it is also being used for training of the Med Flight staff in Boston and the Fire Department in Lexington. VIRGIL combines the use of a realistic mannequin with a PC-based graphical interface that tracks the internal position of chest tubes during training exercises.

Smallpox Inoculation By responding to a Department of Defense request, the CIMIT team quickly devised a small pox inoculation trainer to address the national need to train health care workers quickly and safely. SITU, the Smallpox Inoculation Training Unit, is being field-tested in Korea by medics of the US Army's 2nd Infantry Division. It will also be demonstrated at the November meeting of the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States, a conference chaired by Surgeon General Richard Carmona, AMSUS president.

The Simulation Group The Simulation Group exemplifies the work of CIMIT, which is to act as a bridge between physicians, scientists, and engineers to bring novel technologies to patient care. The team members include: Steve Dawson, MD; Stephane Cotin, PhD; Mark Ottensmeyer, PhD; Paul Neumann, PhD; Nick Stylopoulos, MD; Ryan Scott Bardsley; Mike Russell, PhD; Bob Waddington; Xunlei Wu, PhD. The work of The Simulation Group was supported by the US Army's Medical Research and Material Command.

CIMIT and Novel Technology Senator Kennedy's letter noted: "As the story of the 21st century unfolds, I am confident that the advances made in the life sciences will be the enduring theme. I am particularly proud that Massachusetts is at the forefront of these advances with its well-educated workforce, unparalleled leadership in education and medical care, and growing industries in biotechnology and medical devices."

CIMIT, The Center for the Integration of Medicine and Innovative Technology, is a collaboration of Harvard physicians with scientists and engineers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the Charles Stark Draper Laboratory who work together to solve complex medical problems. The solutions achieved are translated to medical practice, resulting in better and more cost-effective care. The participating institutions include: Massachusetts General Hospital, Partners HealthCare, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Children's Hospital Boston, MIT, and Draper. CIMIT is designated as a Harvard Medical School Center.