News

Virtual simulators: the future of medical studies

  • Faculté des Sciences, des Technologies et de Médecine (FSTM)
    Université / Administration centrale et Rectorat
    25 novembre 2020
  • Catégorie
    Education, Recherche, Université
  • Thème
    Sciences de la vie & médecine

In order to anticipate future training needs in the healthcare sector, the University of Luxembourg will invest in cutting-edge 3D tools in the coming months. On this occasion, from September to November 2020, the University organised 7 demonstrations and training sessions to select advanced equipment.

Towards a virtual hospital

In the frame of the new Bachelor in Medicine launched in September 2020 and the coming specialisations in oncology and neurology and general medicine studies, the University of Luxembourg has to acquire new tools and the choice is going to virtual technologies. “We are convinced that the patient himself is not the best learning tool. Virtual pedagogy enables us to offer a high-level and cost-effective solution. We would like to evolve towards a virtual hospital where the different categories of professionals (doctors and allied healthcare professionals) could be trained together. This simulation-based teaching unit is intended to be an open structure where doctors or specialist trainees from foreign universities rotating through Luxembourg’s hospitals are welcome. In addition, this teaching activity will be coupled with a research activity in the field of medical education science. We also hope in the future to be able to contribute to R&D in the field of training”, comments Prof. Gilbert Massard, Director of Medical Education at the University of Luxembourg.

Demonstrations and exchanges

Following installation of the virtual dissection table “Anatomage” on the second floor of Maison du Savoir, 7 sessions were organised with world leading providers of simulation training and educational products such as Laerdal, Medicalem, Twin-Medical and Virtamed. The medical team at the University of Luxembourg invited students and practitioners to learn more, exchange experience and share viewpoints about medical task-trainers, virtual reality trainers, huge fidelity patient simulators, simulation of real nursing scenarios, development of clinical decision-making skills, online curriculum resources, simulations quizzes and so on.

In concertation with stakeholders from the healthcare sector in Luxembourg and future teachers in our medical education program, the University will now select several advanced tools for future training of medical professional and allied health care professionals teaching and research activities.