Study finds HeartWorks can improve novice performance in Critical Care

A recent clinical study* has found that adding HeartWorks TEE Simulators (Transesophageal Echocardiography) to training can improve novices’ ability to perform focused critical care TEE.

The study, conducted by the University of Bern, Switzerland, took 44 intensive care unit trainees and randomly split them into two groups; one group receiving four hours of lecture-based training and another, trained for an additional 4 hours using a HeartWorks TEE simulator. After the training, each group was asked to perform two TEE examinations on intensive care unit patients, which were evaluated by blinded assessors and a score rating of 0-100, which was compared with expert data.

It was concluded that the addition of simulation training using a HeartWorks TEE simulator improved a novice’s ability to perform focused critical care TEE. After just 8 hours of combined lecture and HeartWorks TEE simulator training, the majority of TEE scans taken by the trainees were of sufficient quality for clinical use.

*’Impact of Simulator-Based Training in Focused Transesophageal Echocardiography: A Randomized Controlled Trial.’ By Bloch A1, von Arx R, Etter R, Berger D, Kaiser H, Lenz A, Merz TM. Published: Anesthesia and Analgesia, October 2017.

Full abstract & study is available here.

To find out more about HeartWorks TEE Simulator click here.