Center for Advanced Pediatric and Perinatal Education (CAPE)
Founded in 2002 through a philanthropic gift from an anonymous community donor, the Center for Advanced Pediatric and Perinatal Education (CAPE) offers interactive simulation-based learning experiences and conducts human performance research in obstetric, fetal, neonatal, and pediatric sciences. Dr. Louis Halamek, CAPE's Director, founded CAPE on the principle that rigorous training and objective assessment will produce optimal human performance. His inspiration comes from his work with NASA and their many decades of experience in training human beings to function in high-risk environments.
CAPE serves as a training and research resource for healthcare professionals at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford and Stanford University School of Medicine as well as local, regional, national and international audiences. Training programs are focused on all members of the healthcare team including physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, first responders and hospital administrators. International professionals are becoming frequent visitors to CAPE, representing more than 40 countries to date.
Learning Opportunities
For Healthcare Instructors: Programs for healthcare instructors gives trainees hands-on experience using simulation as a training methodology. Attendees learn how to employ simulation as a tool to promote the safety, efficiency and effectiveness of patient care. Programs vary in length and format from the three-day Simulation Instructor Program to the hour-long phone consultation included in the Remote Debriefing Assessment. Upon program completion, trainees are equipped to design and implement simulation-based training at their home institutions.
For Healthcare Providers: Programs for healthcare providers are designed to enhance the cognitive technical and behavioral skills of healthcare professionals engaged in patient care on a regular basis. Attendees in these programs range from novices desiring to learn basic skills, to experts looking to enhance mastery. The simulation specialists and clinical faculty who lead these programs at CAPE tailor training to meet the specific needs of this wide range of attendees.
Our Impact and Testimonials
Bobbi J Byrne, MD
Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health
Alejandro B Gonzalez, MD, FAAP
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
How the Programs Work
Scenarios: Trainees participate in highly realistic simulated, clinical scenarios that challenge their command of the necessary cognitive, technical, and behavioral skills. All actions are recorded on time-coded digital video for review during debriefings.
Debriefing: Immediately following each scenario, highly trained professionals lead debriefings, where trainees participate in an active conversation about what occurred, referring to video as an objective point of reference. These debriefings allow attendees to reflect upon what they did well and the actions that facilitated those successes. Most important, attendees have the opportunity to discuss shortcomings and develop strategies to avoid or mitigate such issues in the future.