What started in 1999 with one man and one manikin as a hospital’s first venture into experiential medical learning and innovation using simulation has become a full-fledged international hub for continued medical training and innovation using state-of-the-art robotics.

It’s called the Center for Education, Simulation and Innovation – or CESI – and has grown into the centerpiece of Hartford HealthCare’s vision to revamp medical education. Program Director Steve Donahue has details.

Q: What makes CESI so important in today’s medical education and world? 

A: I think at CESI what we’re trying to do is be at the forefront of patient safety, so simulation really becomes akin to the flight simulator for pilot training: an opportunity for our nurses and healthcare professionals to practice in a simulated environment. We can simulate any number of medical scenarios, from surgical procedures to delivering babies. It’s an opportunity to practice delivering patient care in low-risk environment.

Q: Tell us about the manikins you use at CESI.

A: The manikins are very sophisticated. They can breathe. They can bleed. Any medical emergency that a care team may encounter, we can simulate. Moms who deliver premature babies, for example.

Q: Tell us about CESI’s international reach. 

We’ve had medical personnel from Israel and the U.S. Navy come from across the globe to train here. We’re very flattered by that – we have a wonderful training facility. What we really pride ourselves on is customized training programs that will meet the customer’s training and education needs. We’ve had people from every continent come visit to learn more about what we do and how we’re doing it.

Learn more about CESI here