Art Simulates Life: 3D Visualization Takes Pediatric Hospitalist Simulations to the Next Level

Abstract

Children’s National Hospital is a leading pediatric teaching hospital with medical students, residency programs, fellowships, and research initiatives. We develop virtual 3D patients to improve medical training by simulating plausible, life-threatening scenarios in infants and children for Pediatric Hospitalists. Medical simulation is widely used to enhance the readiness of medical professionals [Davila and Price 2023; Motola et al. 2013]. Children’s National’s Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine’s Resuscitation Simulation Team (HRST) leads training for attending Hospitalists responsible for the inpatient care of sick and injured children across our entire regional network. Our 3D patient simulations provide realistic depictions of nuanced physical findings that are essential to identify uncommon, yet life threatening medical conditions in children. 3D models applicable for pediatric simulations are underrepresented compared to those used for adult patients.