Education

We deliver, and support the use of, simulation-based education to teach healthcare professionals across specialties and at all levels of training. This education incudes many aspects of simulation ranging from manikins that can mimic a complete patient, to part-task-trainer simulators that simulate part of a body that allow a particular medical procedure to be practiced. We also provide instruction in programme development and strategies for skills teaching and scenario writing for healthcare simulation. 

Undergraduate Teaching

ICAPSS supports the delivery of patient safety and clinical skills teaching across all years of the undergraduate medical school curriculum. Students are prepared for clinical placements in hospitals and GP surgeries by learning and practicing their clinical and procedural skills using simulation. A combination of examination, palpation and auscultation simulators with hybrid simulation and simulated patients is used to improve the students’ communication and clinical skill performance. Procedural skills such as venepuncture, cannulation, ABGs and nasogastric tube insertion are taught using simulation. Hi-fidelity manikin based simulation is used in years 3, 4 and 5 to support induction to the ward and theatre environment, and target skills like decision making, handover and teamworking. 

Internship

Internship is 12 month-education and training programme, completed by newly qualified doctors in Ireland. All intern posts in the University of Galway Intern Network rotate through the hub teaching hospital, which is University Hospital Galway (UHG). 

The ICAPSS facilitates a comprehensive induction programme in the first two weeks of internship, which includes the guided practice of 13 core procedural skills on task trainers (e.g. ABGs, Male Urinary Catheterisation, Accessing Central Lines, Peripheral IV Cannulation), and participation in interprofessional simulated scenarios and debriefs with intern nurses which focus on the management of the deteriorating patient. The goal of this programme is prepare interns to enter the healthcare system safety and with an understanding of roles. 

Throughout intern year, a number of additional programmes are facilitated at the ICAPSS, which include Point of Care Ultrasound skills, suturing workshops and casting workshops. 

Postgraduate Teaching

Diploma in Healthcare Simulation and Patient Safety

The goal of this Diploma is to prepare learners to deliver simulation-based education and training, and run a simulation centre. This course is delivered over one year to healthcare professionals from a range of disciplines. Learners complete six modules on topics related to practical healthcare simulation education and patient safety. The modules are delivered using a combination of multimedia presentations, online discussion boards, and online tutorials. There will also be a need to attend two interactive simulation workshops, each run over two days in the ICAPSS, Galway. 

Masters in Healthcare Simulation and Patient Safety

This course is delivered over two years. The course prepares learners to deliver healthcare simulation, run a healthcare simulation centre, and carry out research on or using healthcare simulation. The first year is the same as the Diploma described above. The second year is focused on the completion of a research or quality improvement project related to simulation and/or patient safety.

Continuing Professional Development

ICAPSS delivers more than 100 different types of training programmes for practicing clinicians each year. Course are delivered both internally, to support HSE West and North West Region staff, and for external training bodies such as the RCPI, CAI and RCSI. These programmes are for skill acquisition such as ultrasound guided LP, CVC insertion and paracentesis and for improving communication, teamworking and non technical skills. Specialty programmes include general internal medicine, emergency medicine, anaesthesiology, paediatrics, psychiatry, ENT, endocrine, renal and respiratory. Nursing programmes include ABG training and tracheostomy management and hi-fidelity simulation programmes in emergency medicine, acute surgical and medical assessment and in ICU as well as multidisciplinary programmes in massive transfusion protocols and INEWS training.