We are continuingly improving the training curriculum of the residency program by creating opportunities to learn and practice clinical skills in a safe environment. During the PGY-2 year residents spend time with "Cosmo" in the Northwestern Memorial Hospital Medical Simulation Center. In the simulator, residents have the opportunity to practice ACLS protocols in advance of serving as a code leader. The simulator gives the residents the opportunity to learn procedural and team leardership skills and has realistic responses to medications and other interventions. Northwestern residents are clear about the benefit they have gained from this opportunity to integrate technology into clinical care.

“No matter how smoothly you can rattle off the ACLS algorithms, there's nothing quite like running into a patient's room as the code leader and having to assert what the next move should be...the chance to practice that humbling moment in the simulation lab has been invaluable" Emily Diederich, MD..

Northwestern’s Internal Medicine residency has gained national acclaim with publications in journals such as Chest and Academic Medicine, and our Program Director, Dr. Diane Wayne, received the SGIM National Medical Education Scholarship Award in 2007 for this innovation.

The program in simulation has been expanded to central venous catheter insertion and other bedside procedures. This allows residents to practice the procedure prior to rotating in the MICU and other inpatient services. In addition to popularity with the housestaff, this program has shown dramatic benefit to patients in terms of improved quality of care. In 2008 simulation education was expanded to teaching cardiac auscultation using "Harvey." This simulation is linked to cardiac auscultation of real patients in an attempt to improve patient care.