MI2's MedStar SiTEL Mobile Simulation Lab Deployed in April 2020 for COVID-19 Response

Initially established in January 2016, the MedStar Simulation Training & Education Lab (SiTEL)’s Mobile Simulation Lab has played a critical role in MedStar Health’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As the system prepared for a possible surge of coronavirus patients in spring 2020, MedStar SiTEL’s Mobile Simulation Lab traveled to numerous MedStar Health hospitals in April to prepare clinicians from other specialties to work in intensive care through a hands-on “ICU Provider Mobile Bootcamp.”

The Mobile Sim Lab is a fully-equipped, 40-foot truck-based simulation laboratory with two simulation bays that can hold up to six learners each, two control rooms, and a group debriefing space. During the ICU Provider Mobile Bootcamp, MedStar Health providers prepared for potential redeployment in ICU settings by reviewing the latest in ventilator management, personal protective equipment use, and other equipment and treatment strategies, including provider-to-provider eConsults made possible by the MedStar Telehealth Innovation Center. 

Between April 9 and April 23, the Mobile Sim Lab travelled to five locations throughout Washington, D.C., and Maryland, reaching 138 providers from six MedStar Health hospitals including MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital, MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital, MedStar Union Memorial Hospital, MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center, and MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center. 

“When an emergency comes up like this, we’re ready to go,” said Dr. John Yosaitis, medical director of MedStar SiTEL and the ICU boot camp director, as quoted by WTOP. In talking about MedStar SiTEL’s Mobile Sim Lab, he added, “It can go anywhere. We have 10 hospitals and over 300 ambulatory care centers in MedStar, and we take it all over to bring a sim-center, to bring training to the associates.” 

Learn more on our related Featured Projects page, and in a sampling of news coverage about how the MedStar SiTEL Mobile Sim Lab helped the system respond to COVID-19:

• WJLA 7, D.C. hospital using mobile lab to train as many physicians as possible to use ventilators (April 10)

• WTOP, DC-area doctors prepare for coronavirus surge at ICU boot camp [LISTEN] (April 14)

• NBC 4, Mobile Training Lab Offers Medical Boot Camp on Wheels (April 15)

• WUSA 9, Mobile ICU boot camp prepares new wave of doctors to treat COVID-19 patients (April 16)

• The Baltimore Sun, Coronavirus ICU Bootcamp (April 16) 

• WJZ 13, ‘We’ll Be Ready’ | MedStar Good Samaritan Hospital Prepares In Case Of Surge In COVID-19 Patients (April 16)

• WBAL 11, MedStar Health doctors train in preparation for potential surge in hospitalization (April 16)

Please note: General MI2 website updates were paused in recent months as our team focused on the COVID-19 response. As we resume updates in late June 2020, we are ensuring that select historic milestones that have passed are still represented in our newsroom.