Simulation Program

In 2006, SUNY at Buffalo's emergency medicine residency program began utilizing simulation during residency training. They particpate in an emergency medicine trauma simulation lab at the new Behling Simuliation Center four times each year, introducing them to a unique simulated team training experience. Dr. Jeffrey Myers is Director of the Behling Simulation Center.

The Behling Simulation Center provides a variety of training scenarios and simulation educational opportunities for all five schools in the UB academic health center fostering inter-professional education.  Our residents have the opportunity to manage several different trauma scenarios along with an inter-professional team of providers.

When the residents are at the Simulation Center, they take part in several immersive simulations and also use the center as part of the credentialing process for ultrasound guided central line placement, sterile gowning, and chest tube placement. 

Simulation training allows the resident to gain "real-world" experience with critical decision-making in a controlled, time-sensitive environment that includes feedback. While managing multiple clinical cases using a simulation mannequin, the resident will gain a better understanding of the outcome of their decisions so that when faced with a similar experience in real-life at a later time, they are able to quickly refer back to the objectives learned during their simulation exercise, providing enhanced care and quicker response to situations seen in the emergency department.

Emergency medicine residents will benefit from participating in these simulation lab exercises by:

• Practicing ATLS skills to provide patient care to a major trauma patient in a safe, simulated environment
• Having an opportunity to practice team leadership skills in the patient care setting

This educational experience also includes a review of their video recorded cases where they are able to critique their own performance as part of a 360 degree self-evaluation.