Inexpensive Haptics Based Simulation of Military Medicine

The more effective medical simulation model would address these needs by incorporating both the visually realistic physiology of a casualty and tactile fidelity of performing the procedure. This would better prepare warfighter trainees to recognize and treat evolving emergencies during prolonged casualty care. • The enhancement funding will be utilized to integrate a previously developed robust PC based Virtual Patient Platform with an inexpensive haptic device that is currently linked to a game engine to simulate the performance of several lifesaving procedures. • This integration will add fidelity to the simulation by combining assessment, treatment decisions and a more detailed and realistic performance of procedures. The trainee will need to demonstrate a higher level of competence in that they will need to not only recognize that the casualty requires a needle decompression during a tension pneumothorax scenario, but they will also need to know how to perform each step of the procedure correctly in order to treat the condition. They then must reassess the casualty to see if the intervention has been effective and detect any complications that may have occurred. By moving forward to a later point in time, trainees can practice vital prolonged casualty care skills; an initial treatment can develop complications that will need to be addressed. This capability is lacking in manikins.