BabySIM is the world's first interactive infant simulator that combines lifelike human physiological characteristics with software models that enable it to independently recognize and respond to medical treatment and drugs. This capability allows students to perfect the most critical infant care tasks through continual, realistic exercises in a risk-free environment.

The new BabySim technology in the Patient Simulation Center in the UI Department of Anesthesia is the first to be fully installed and functioning in a teaching hospital in the United States. Medical Education Technologies, Inc. (METI) is delivering BabySim systems to 17 medical institutions across the United States, Japan and Europe.

"Providing anesthesia to a sick infant is a challenging task at the best of times," said Suhas Kalghatgi, M.D., UI assistant professor of anesthesia and director of the Patient Simulation Center. "BabySim allows us to present these challenging scenarios in a realistic manner to our residents and medical students, outside the operating room environment. The training can be accomplished without causing potential harm to a patient."

Among its lifelike features, BabySIM cries, urinates, has lifelike pulses, heart functions and sounds, has eyes that dilate and blink, and can be either a boy or a girl.

Run from a laptop computer, software controls these lifelike functions so that BabySIM (and all METI patient simulators) can accurately and independently recognize and respond to medical treatment and drugs administered by the trainee without manipulation by an instructor once a medical scenario has begun. BabySIM is capable of manifesting a host of possible human conditions and emergency medical scenarios encountered in the operating room.

During emergency exercises, instructors can intervene and "throw a curve ball" to create realistic critical situations that challenge would-be lifesavers. If the students' actions are correct, BabySIM will survive. Alternately, a wrong decision and administering an incorrect medication can send the simulated patient into cardiac arrest and perhaps even place BabySim's "life" in jeopardy.

University of Iowa Children's Hospital at UI Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City is the state's longest-serving children's hospital. More than 130,000 children receive care at University of Iowa Children's Hospital and its statewide network of outreach clinics each year.

For more information:

Medical Education Technologies, Inc.

University of Iowa Children's Hospital