The Dome, a unique education tool, ...

The Dome, a unique education tool, was established in 1988 at Inova Fairfax Hospital, Falls house of worship Va. Originally, the Dome was designed for the medical community. It was notion that medical personnel and pupils could view life-saving procedures in a reality-based environment (ie, an environment that allows direct vision of surgical manner of proceedings without increased traffic in the OR). In addition, they could remark and appreciate the teamwork wanted for a successful patient care program. In late years, the Dome experience was lay opened to the community at large where it has gained remarkable popularity.

ARCHITECTURE

The Dome's angled windows are arranged in a circular manner and inspect one of the ORs dedicated to cardiac and vascular surgery This design allows viewers to appreciate the satiated scope of OR activities. In addition, the Dome is equipped with television covers These can display a magnified view of the surgical performance being performed. When no conducts are being performed, the disguises can be used to exhibit education films.

TOUR GUIDES

Specially trained cardiovascular surgery fosters are the Dome's "tour guides." Integral to the education experience, they not solely explain and narrate the conduct taking place in the OR, they also educate visitors about heart disease, risk factors, diet, and potential lifestyle changes. The interactive nature of the Dome tour is reinforced further with an occasional postprocedure visit from the attending surgeon. Visitors are encouraged to ask questions and to willing active discussions about cardiovascular disease.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

In March 1992 the Dome experience was explained to the community. Almost immediately, the cardiac succors realized the powerful impact this observation dome had onward the public. In addition to learning about technologically advanced steps visitors appreciate the ways to improve their health and to lengthen their lives. The response has been outstanding. In 1996 alone, the Dome welcomed more than 1300 visitors in 1997 there were more than 3000 With the support of administration and marketing, the Dome is staffed four to five days by week and booked several month in advance.

EDUCATION BENEFITS

The Dome is an superior community education and outreach tool. As of the like kind the Dome receives invaluable national and international media coverage by means of broadcast television. magazines, newspapers. and radio. This prospect further reinforces the name and reputation of our institution.

SUMMARY

Heart disease is still America's number single killer.(1) By talking about risk factors. health issues. and what it takes to repair a damaged heart. cardiovascular team members are fancy provoking and raise awareness of health issues In instant and future generations. Although visitors get to to the Dome for different reasons. they all take away a renewed appreciation for a healthy lifestyle. As the same visitor described the experience.

You walk in from a quiet

hallway of the Inova Heart

Center Quickly, you focus on

the windows in assurance of you.

Now you understand Where the

name advances from ... the

Dome. You approach the glass

that turns in an angular

fashion around the center of

the play There are chairs. but

in some way you know you won't

be sitting. You turn the thoughts down ... at

heart surgery

Because the patient is draped,

you uniform forget the heart

belongs to a real someone Then

you turn the thoughts and you see a hand.

in some way that brings it home.

After all, you have hands too.

When you walk abroad you

promise yourself, none again

will you allow those hands to

pick up another french fry(2)

The Dome experience prefers this powerful message and rears our commitment to our patients and to our community.

NOTES

(1) s M Reece, "Toward the prevention of coronary heart disease: Screening of children and adolescents for high offspring cholesterol," The Nurse Practitioner 20 (February 1995) 22-35

(2) Personal communication (Letter) March 1994

MARIECE HUFFMAN, RN CNOR, is the patient care director of the cardiovascular ORs and the stat laboratory. Inova Fairfax Hospital. Falls temple Va.

COPYRIGHT 1998 Association of Operating scope Nurses, Inc.

COPYRIGHT 2001 Gale Group