Medical Simulation Center activity and knowledge transfer during the COVID-19 pandemic

INTRODUCTION: The Medical Simulation Center (MSC) of Poznan University of Medical Sciences was established in 2010 as the educational university center. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic faced new challenges, which forced multi-pronged new activities of this unit to increase the patient’s safety in the region. The purpose of this study was to assess the multi-profile activity performed in the Medical Simulation Center during the COVID-19 pandemic. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Authors except the primary educational activity realized in epidemiological conditions from March 2020 to March 2022, identified 6 new areas and projects that were prepared on the initiative of the MSC, using its premises, technical, and know-how resources. RESULTS: In the results, authors quantify the redistributed equipment resources and the completed training and normal education activity adapted to epidemiological restrictions. Basic courses and vaccination courses resulted in the creation of a significant group of volunteers prepared to work in destructive consequences of the pandemic COVID-19 including 24 months of activity of point of screening and testing. In Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) training in the cognitive, behavioral, technical, and knowledge assessment significant improvement was observed. Moreover, the upgraded trainers’ skills provoke to prepare the complex nursing procedures for ECMO patients with COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS: The multifaceted activity of the MSC confirms the great potential of this type of training unit based on medical simulation techniques as an educational tool, especially in the face of the real threat of a global epidemiological crisis. MSC can be an education center creating new procedures, standards of care, and best practices.