Baycrest

Annual Education Report 2015-2016 Page 23 of 31 Division of Training & Simulation 2015/16 saw the development of the Division of Training and Simulation within the Centre for Education. The Division arose from the increasing demands from both internal and external customers for training programs and to ensure Baycrest establishes itself as, and remains a leader in aging and brain health through the dissemination of innovative educational practices and the development of specialized educational products and training services related to seniors' care. Educational products will be offered both locally, nationally and internationally to generate revenue. The first suite of learning activities being developed will address Responsive Behaviours: a blended learning approach that includes in person training and incorporates simulation and interactive eLearning modules to help teams care for the complex needs of seniors. These courses will be ready for market by January 2017. Simulation is a tool that is relatively new to geriatrics and long-term care. It is a form of experiential learning that is especially beneficial to experienced leaners and fosters interprofessional learning – a key priority at Baycrest – by enhancing staff knowledge, attitudes and behaviours related to key team competencies such as communication, collaboration, values and ethics. Through an endowment from the Rodda Family, the Centre for Education has been able to develop an innovative geriatric simulation program. Located on the 5 th floor of the Kimel family building, the simulation area is where simulation activities are employed for health professions' training that includes technical skills training (manikins, task trainers), role playing, eLearning and blended simulation. Training programs being developed will include innovative components of simulation and eLearning and the state-of-the-art training space will be designed to become a "hub" to enable Baycrest to host external customers. In addition to Lisa Sokoloff, our Manager, Training & Simulation, the team includes 1 full-time educator, Shoshana Helfenbaum and 2 part-time educators: Dr. Bruce Ballon our consultant educator who advises and assists in the development and training of simulation and Cathy Smith our part time Simulated Participant (SP) expert who leads our SAGE program. SAGE – Simulation Activities in Gerontological Education, is our premiere SP simulation program- a unique, volunteer-based and geriatric-focused simulation project, in collaboration with Volunteer Services and the Baycrest Centre for Learning, Research and Innovation. A simulated participant (SP) is a well individual trained to portray a real patient, family or staff member. SPs provide educators and learners with opportunities to learn, assess and refine a variety of skills, including communication, interviewing, diagnostics, and other interprofessional competencies. SPs perform their role within the framework of a learning scenario designed by educators to meet specific curriculum objectives. The SAGE program will support a wide variety of educational and orientation programs to promote care that is responsive to the social, cultural and health system contexts within which gerontological care is delivered to clients and families. One of the challenges in Ontario is that very few SP programs exist, and among these, geriatric SPs are scarce. Developing a pool of well-trained, geriatric SPs will greatly enhance Baycrest's educational capacity and position Baycrest as a leader in the field of simulation. Figure 1 - Team Members (l-r) Lisa Sokoloff, Shoshana Helfenbaum, Cathy Smith and Dr. Bruce Ballon

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