Simulators Stand In For Animals In Medical Training
The decision by one Philadelphia medical center to do away with using animals [1] as part of its pediatric training in favor of sticking to simulators reflects a national trend for training in relatively simple procedures.
Although animals have been critical in driving healthcare innovation [2], simulators have grown increasingly sophisticated, so much so that surgical residencies have scaled back on using animals until residents first prove themselves competent on a simulator. Here are four things that are contributing to the use of simulators for training, particularly for surgeons.