JOSHUA ALLAN
The 1510 West

The reality of overcrowded emergency wards coupled with chronic shortages of health-care workers means dealing with situations in hospitals on a day-to-day basis comes with added challenges.

To meet these challenges, the Lakeshore General Hospital in Pointe Claire has opened a state-of-the-art learning and simulation centre.

The centre, which first was set up last November but marked its official launch last week, provides nurses and medical students  with “comprehensive training adapted to practical realities in a safe and collaborative environment,” according to an statement issued by the CIUSSS de l’Ouest-de-l’Île-de-Montréal.

The centre incorporates innovative mannequins, which are used to simulate emergency medical scenarios. These adult-, child- and infant-sized mannequins are able to talk, simulate breathing and change pupil size. Among these mannequins are models used for ultrasounds and minor surgical procedures. Using these mannequins, medical professionals in-training can practice complex scenarios that can be transferred to the real-life clinical setting.

“Thanks to advanced simulation technologies, opportunities for learning and continuous improvement are maximized, reinforcing clinical and interprofessional skills in a safe, collaborative environment,” a CIUSS statement explained.

As of yesterday, the emergency ward at the Lakeshore General was at 142-per-cent capacity, according to Index Santé, an independent portal that provides insights from hospitals from across the province. The Lakeshore’s emergency department was the fifth busiest in the Montreal region, according to Index Santé, behind the Jewish General, which was at 194-per-cent capacity yesterday; Verdun Hospital, which was at 165 per cent; the Montreal General Hospital, at 161 per cent; and the Royal Victoria Hospital that was at 158-per-cent capacity.