KidSTAR
The pediatric simulation center at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Lincoln Park officially opened March 9, 2007. KidSTAR
(Simulation for Teaching and Research) - focuses on two main aspects of pediatric care, based on the Pediatric Advanced Life Support
course (PALS): initial recognition of illness and prioritizing first steps in resuscitation. This program, part of the Northwestern
McGaw Simulation Network, is directed by Mark Adler, M.D. Walter Eppich, M.D. (
Curriculum Vitae)
serves as Medical Education Director and Jennifer Trainor, M.D. (
Curriculum Vitae) also contributes to the simulation training at KidSTAR.
The simulation center is 846 square feet and is equipped with three simulators – one high fidelity infant simulator and two medium fidelity simulators (one 5 year old and one adolescent/adult). Pediatric Residents, Pediatric Emergency Fellows, and Emergency Medical Residents all currently receive training at the simulation lab. Future participants of this simulation based training will include Intensive Care and Cardiology fellows, as well as pediatric nurses.
Dr. Adler and his team are currently conducting research on three projects:
1) Establishing a regular curriculum with which to train emergency medicine residents in Pediatric Emergency Medicine. This federally funded project has a budget of $200,000 per year for three years. The project entered its third year in March, 2007;
2) Evaluating an Electronic Medical Record-based handoff tool which focuses on improving physician to physician communications. This project is funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), and is part of a collaborative effort with Center for Simulation Teaching and Research (CSTAR) and the Northwestern McGaw Simulation Network; and
3) Simulation based training which focuses on enhancing bag-mask skills of pediatric interns. Dr. Eppich oversees this project.
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In addition to his role as Director of KidSTAR, Dr. Adler is on the Resident Education Committee at Children’s Memorial Hospital. He is also a Director of the Resident Pediatric Program Evaluation Committee and serves as Editor for the Society of Simulation in Healthcare.
Dr. Eppich's additional engagements include curriculum development as it relates
to integrating simulation into pediatric residency, designing simulation-based continuing
education for practicing physicians, as well as multi-disciplinary trauma team training.