University of Illinois College of Medicine: January 28, 2009

As part of the learning trip to the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria (UICOMP), OLLI members had a rare opportunity to see a demonstration of a human patient simulator.

Located in UICOMP's Donald E. Rager, M.D. Clinical Skills Laboratory, the simulator suite houses an entire family of simulators -- adult, pediatric, and infant. The computerized simulators blink, speak, breathe, and mimic complex human physiological changes in tens of thousands of combinations.

The simulators respond automatically to medical interventions and record a data log of all events. UICOMP Advancement Coordinator Jim Burwitz, who led OLLI members on the tour, said the feedback is essential for a doctor's learning experience. After the training session, doctors can watch their performance with video playback and vitals on-screen in real time.

Mr. Burwitz also took OLLI members to the UICOMP library, which provides a wealth of medical information for doctors and the public.

OLLI thanks Mr. Burwitz and his colleagues at UICOMP for a wonderful learning experience.

For more information about the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria, visit www.uicomp.uic.edu.