ANGIO Mentor Suite at Inter-American University
To make their Bachelor of Radiology Technologist degree graduates more experienced and attractive to employers, Inter-American University purchased a Simbionix ANGIO Mentor Suite training simulator from 3D Systems.  Their students will benefit from hands-on simulated experience in their last semester at school and gain confidence prior to entering the workforce.

The program prepares these healthcare professionals to support Radiologists, Interventional Cardiologists, Neuro Surgeons, Vascular Peripheral Surgeons and Interventional Neuro Radiologists perform procedures, as well as analyze and interpret results.

“There are only two hospitals near our university, so there aren’t enough spots for all students to have clinical experience and see invasive procedures prior to graduation, “said Professor Sandra Suárez.  “When Professor Yesenia González tried the ANGIO Mentor simulator, she knew that we had a way for our students to practice hands-on skills after they finished their theory courses.  Now they can experience team training and practice as if they are working side-by-side with the surgeon and anticipating the needs of the doctor.”

This is the first ANGIO Mentor simulator on the island of Puerto Rico.  The Inter-American University expects that the simulator will make their angiography program even more attractive to prospective students who are evaluating programs.   They also expect that patient safety will improve due to the experience acquired on the simulator and the equipment’s rich curriculum.

“In the Bachelor of Radiology Technologist program every student must have clinical practice to acquire skills,” said Carmen Muňoz, Radiology Lab Technician.   “That is why the ANGIO Mentor simulator from 3D Systems is a great asset for our program.  It helps prepare students for their clinical experience.”

Some of the procedures to be taught on the simulator include basic endovascular skills, coronary, transradial coronary, coronary bifurcation, coronary CTO, renal, iliac, SFA, below the knee and peripheral embolization.

“A technologist must know what the surgeon needs during every step of the procedure,” said Professor Yesenia González, Radiologist Assistant Specialist. “The simulator will make our graduates more valuable to the hospital and doctors in a shorter amount of time.”

The ANGIO Mentor simulator will soon be connected to a real C-arm, which will add to the realism of the team training and enable teaching of c-arm operation and radiation safety principles.