Recent research done at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University has revealed that first year anesthesiology residents who first practice using simulations perform better than their real-world counterparts, says Newswise.

Really, this just makes good sense–rather than having patients in teaching hospitals exposed to residents who may be encountering complications from anesthesia or other issues for the first time, exposing residents first to these scenarios in simulation increase the likelihood that they will know what to do when the real thing happens.

Sounds like for anesthesiologists, at least, the motto ought to change to “simulate one, see one, do one, teach one”.

Summer Johnson, PhD