Investing in equipment for students to practice at school, including clinical simulation models, is a mandatory requirement before allowing students to intern at hospitals. Some institutions have invested in purchasing numerous clinical simulation models worth billions of VND.

A workshop on solutions to improve the quality of medical and pharmaceutical training, held at Vien Dong College (Ho Chi Minh City City) on September 6, introduced many modern clinical simulation models currently being applied by universities and colleges.

Clinical simulation models – an effective solution to improve practical skills

According to Master Tran Thanh Hai, Principal of Vien Dong College, the health sector is a specialized field with very strict requirements. In reality, many students are only trained in theory while medical technology advances too rapidly, such as endoscopy, non-invasive diagnostic methods…, leading to a lack of real-world experience. Therefore, investing in equipment for students to practice at school, including clinical simulation models, is a mandatory requirement before allowing students to intern at hospitals.

Recently, the college has purchased many clinical simulation models from the US and Germany, at a cost of nearly 3 billion VND. These models will be used for daily teaching and learning activities for lecturers and students, helping students increase their practice opportunities before internships.

Specialist level 2 Nguyen Huu Hung, former Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, stated that investing in clinical simulation models is not only a trend but also an effective solution to improve the practical skills of medical students.

Current technology allows for the creation of realistic scenarios, helping students practice from basic to complex procedures while ensuring absolute patient safety. “When practicing on models, even technical errors do not affect patients. Once proficient, students will be more confident when entering real practice,” Mr. Hung emphasized.

However, Mr. Hung affirmed that to maximize the effectiveness of the models, the teaching faculty must have deep expertise, understand techniques, and possess clinical knowledge. He also proposed that domestic and foreign schools could cooperate and share teaching facilities to avoid waste and improve the efficiency of equipment usage.

To maximize the effectiveness of clinical simulation models, the teaching faculty must have deep expertise, understand techniques, and possess clinical knowledge.

From practical teaching and managing intern students, Dr. Dong Nguyen Phuong Uyen, Head Nurse of the Breast Unit, Cho Ray Hospital, affirmed that thanks to the simulation practice process, students are well-prepared before contacting real patients, giving them confidence when entering the hospital environment.

However, she also pointed out a limitation: models cannot replace communication skills – an essential factor when students must explain and reassure patients. “Students can easily lack communication and explanation skills with patients, which simulation models cannot fully replace,” Dr. Uyen stated.

Master Bui Thi Hong Ngoc, former Head of the Nursing Department at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, believes that simulation models also help students apply information technology in practice and train their professional skills more solidly. However, she emphasized the need for more simulation scenarios related to communication skills, so that students can both learn procedures and practice professional behavior right from school.

Solutions for practicing communication: Applying AI patients and Hybrid models

One of the limitations of current clinical simulation models is that students do not fully practice communication skills – a crucial factor in healthcare.

Dr. Nguyen Thanh Son, Vice Principal of Thai Binh Medical College, said that currently, many medical simulation methods are applied worldwide, from physical models, standardized patient scenarios, online simulation, high-fidelity simulation, augmented reality, to Hybrid models. Among them, the Hybrid model, which combines standardized patients with physical models and virtual reality technology, is considered the most modern.

“The Hybrid model has been accredited to meet international standards and is being applied at many major medical schools, including the Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy. The advantage is that students not only practice clinical skills but also have the opportunity to practice communication skills in the same simulated case, although this model will be very expensive,” added Dr. Nguyen Thanh Son.

Dr. Nguyen Thanh Son, Vice Principal of Thai Binh Medical College, stated that each medical simulation model has its own advantages and limitations.

A notable new innovation is the application of AI to simulated patient models. According to Dr. Son, AI software can be programmed to interact with students, helping them practice communication skills: explaining pathologies, handling difficult situations like breaking bad news, or discussing treatment plans. This technology also has the advantage of saving costs, allowing many students to practice the same case simultaneously.

However, experts also recognized that AI cannot grasp patient emotions, overlooks real-world complexities, and cannot replace direct interaction with patients…

Sharing further from actual experience, Dr. Nguyen Thanh Son said that at Thai Binh Medical College, practice rooms are designed like real hospital rooms, and with standardized cases, students must communicate independently, prepare equipment, perform procedures, and note medical records. Each case lasts 15-20 minutes and includes multiple steps. Notably, the college is developing a Hybrid model combining AI patients and physical models – a new step forward in comprehensive medical skills training.

Some clinical simulation models introduced at the workshop:

SAM4 – A modern system for listening to heart, lung, bowel sounds, and murmurs. SAM4 is a significantly improved version from the previous SAM product line, focusing on a realistic listening experience, LED positioning, and 360-degree rotation. With this model, students can identify many different types of pathological murmurs, from fetal heart sounds to lung crackles, all integrated into a compact, smart system.

Corman nasogastric tube placement model – an essential skill in caring for emergency and resuscitation patients. This model can be used to guide students in placing gastric tubes from basic to advanced levels.

Male urinary catheterization model focusing on infection prevention. This is a skill that requires both knowledge and dexterity, precision, and especially the factor of asepsis

Endotracheal intubation model demonstrated by Dr. Nguyen Duy Tan, former lecturer at the University of Health Sciences, Viet Nam National University Ho Chi Minh City.