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Ensuring Standardized Patient Safety During Simulations

Standardized Patients (SPs) play a vital role in creating realistic and meaningful simulation experiences. Ensuring their safety, both physical and psychological, is essential for effective learning and maintaining a supportive environment. This article outlines best practices for instructors to protect SPs during simulations, including preparing scenarios, establishing safety protocols, supporting SPs throughout the session, and leveraging Avkin wearables to enhance monitoring and communication. Following these guidelines helps instructors create simulations that are safe, respectful, and engaging for everyone involved.

Instructor Responsibility: Ensuring SP Safety During Simulations
1. Set Clear Scenario Boundaries
  • Provide a detailed character description for the SP based on the simulation. Ensure the scenario content is appropriate and not “too close to home.”
  • Conduct a full dress rehearsal with all SPs before simulation day.
    • Avtrach: Review exactly how the procedure will occur and practice reactions in advance.
    • Shoulder dystocia on Avbirth: Demonstrate the appropriate level of pressure with the SP so they know what to expect. Allow students to practice to ensure they apply the correct amount of pressure.
2. Use a Safe Word
  • Establish a clear verbal safe word so SPs can immediately pause or stop the simulation if needed.
  • Ensure all faculty, staff, and students are trained on the safe word protocol.
3. Maintain Physical Safety
  • Avoid placing SPs in situations that could cause physical harm, such as:
    • Wearing wigs (risk of lice),
    • Using boots (difficult to sanitize between SPs),
    • Wearing masks (possible skin irritation or infection).
  • Use a blue pad to prevent the SP’s clothing from getting wet during simulations, unless otherwise agreed upon in rehearsal.
4. Support Psychological Safety
  • Encourage SPs to “wipe their feet into” the simulation and again when leaving for the day. This theater-based practice helps them mentally separate from their character and the simulation space.
  • Offer regular breaks to help SPs decompress and connect with others.
  • Conduct post-simulation debriefings to help SPs process their experience and provide a supportive environment to share feedback or emotions.
5. Communicate and Observe
  • Actively check in with SPs throughout the simulation to ensure comfort and well-being (e.g., need for a bathroom break, extra pillow, or adjustment if an IV prop is uncomfortable).
  • If an SP appears distressed or is struggling to remain in character, step in promptly. Remove them from the simulation if needed—never allow potential long-term psychological harm to occur.
6. Leverage the Avband for SP Safety
  • Pair Avkin wearables with the Avband to deliver discreet haptic cues during the simulation.
  • SPs can press the panic button at any time to alert the control room if they feel physically or psychologically unsafe, ensuring immediate assistance.
  • Use customizable vibrations and LED indicators to communicate patient condition changes without disrupting the flow of the scenario.