WIRELESS FOR THE SIMULATION SYSTEM
Today, most high fidelity manikins connect wirelessly,
making wireless a critical piece of the simulation system.
Using a hidden service set identifier (SSID) with authentication
is one way to protect the simulation data; QoS
to prioritize the traffic is common when the wireless
access points also serve other SSIDs. For security reasons,
many institutions place a barrier between their wireless
network and their building network. However, with
healthcare simulation, there must be a way to connect
the wireless to wired ports in order to allow the manikin
data to be downloaded to the capture equipment.
Some manikins connect over Radio Frequency (RF)
but use a network connection to make the simulated
monitor work. This style of manikin requires computers
that support both a wireless and wired network connection
at the same time. It is important to connect to both
a manikin’s wireless network and the wired simulation
lab network, allowing for connection to additional simulation
devices. The IT department may have to modify
the standard group policy and network settings to meet
this requirement, since it is uncommon to allow two network
connections at the same time. When simulations
are run repeatedly throughout the day, the total of the
simulations can outlast the charge of a battery. Therefore,
some owners prefer to use hardwired connections for
power and data.
NETWORK CONSIDERATIONS—WHERE TO
PLACE THE SWITCHES AND SIMULATION
ELECTRONICS?
There are important network considerations to be worked
through when deploying a healthcare simulation system.
Does the data ride over the same network and connect
to the same switches as the rest of the building traffic?
Where should those switches and other simulation
electronics reside?
In addition to coordination with the simulation
center staff, the ICT designer must work closely with
the institution’s IT department. A common network
can be beneficial when IT and other technologies merge.
It is possible to provide isolation or connectivity through
virtual LANs (VLANs), network access control lists (ACLs)
and firewalls. If every data outlet is connected to a switch
74 I ICT TODAY
When locating the IT/AV
equipment rooms serving the
simulation spaces, cabling density
becomes an important
consideration.
port on day one, changes can be made remotely without
the need to dispatch personnel.
When Ms. Follmer was asked how ICT designers can
best meet the needs of the team running the simulation
system, she indicated that early communication with simulation
center staff on network specific needs is important.
Getting information about the devices and software
requirements will make the design process easier. Some
devices will require a simulation center specific network
in addition to the traditional organization network. Some
devices may need static IP addresses set up to simplify the
connection process. Firewall settings may need to be
modified so that information from the manikin system
can pass to the monitors.
While not usually subject to Health Insurance Portability
and Accountability Act (HIPAA) security rules, data
generated by a simulation system is subject to privacy
concerns. When using standardized patients, the systems
may capture images and other data that should not be
accessible by others. In any case, data integrity and network
reliability are crucial because simulation environments
are high stakes and high stress. They immerse the
student in the medical encounter almost as if it were
a real life or death situation. Students should be free
to focus on medical decisions and needed skills. They
should not be impacted by technical issues or concerned
about the fate of the recordings after the simulation.
Complete isolation of the healthcare simulation system
removes the instructor’s ability to access the captured
data outside of simulation areas, which severely limits
their ability to assess the medical students. Other users
throughout campus may even desire to watch live