The American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) began working with MSC in 2003 to investigate the potential of using simulation technology as an evaluation tool. Ten clinical centers participated in the study, in which 120 physicians with varying levels of expertise completed simulated patient cases. Study results indicated that the simulator could reasonably assess cognitive and procedural skills in performing interventional cardiology procedures. ABIM-certified physicians can now do an interventional cardiology simulation to fulfill requirements in their Maintenance of Certification program. Visit ABIM to learn more and to schedule a training session.

The Society of Cardiac Angiography and Intervention (SCAI) partnered with MSC to develop a benchmarking study in 2003.  Over 20 expert physicians completed five simulated coronary interventional cases.  The data was collected and is currently being analyzed in order to establish a national benchmark of best practices.  Upon completion, the program will be offered to members of SCAI, allowing physicians to assess their skill level and identify areas of weakness.  Simulation programs will be offered to enhance knowledge in those identified areas.

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) sponsored a program to assess the impact of simulator-based teaching paradigm compared to the traditional patient-based teaching methodology for cardiovascular trainees.  Phase I of the program which involved cardiology residents and fellows, has been completed.  Phase II will focus on patient safety outcomes following simulation training of interventional teams (nurses and technologists).

In 2001, a validation study called “Clinical Skills Assessment Using Medical Simulation of Pulmonary Artery Catheterization: A Validation Study” was led by Dr. John Messenger, interventional cardiologist and assistant professor of medicine at the University of Colorado Health Science Center and supported in part by the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) Stemmler Medical Education Research Fund.  Forty physicians from a broad range of training and experience levels used the SimSuite® system to perform simulated right-heart catheterization procedures.  Preliminary results show that the simulator can be used to objectively discriminate skill level for PAC procedural performance in realistic, standardized simulated cases, and is acceptable to physicians for both training and testing.  The study was presented at the American College of Cardiology’s (ACC) 53rd Annual Scientific Session symposium called “Medical Simulation: New Tools for Educating Physicians.”  The validation study was the first of its kind for an endovascular simulation system.