This edited book is divided into three parts: Fundamentals of
Medical and Health Sciences Modeling and Simulation introduces
modeling and simulation in the medical and health sciences; Medical
and Health Sciences Models provides the theoretical underpinnings
of medical and health sciences modeling; and Modeling and
Simulation Applications in Medical and Health Sciences focuses on
teaching, training, and research applications. The book
begins with a general discussion of modeling and
simulation from the modeling and simulation discipline
perspective. This discussion grounds the reader in common
terminology. It also relates this terminology to concepts
found in the medical and health care (MHC) area to help bridge the
gap between developers and MHC practitioners. Three distinct modes
of modeling and simulation are described: live, constructive, and
virtual. The live approach explains the concept of using real
(live) people employing real equipment for training purposes.
The constructive mode is a means of engaging medical
modeling and simulation. In constructive simulation,
simulated people and simulated equipment are developed to augment
real-world conditions for training or experimentation
purposes. The virtual mode is perhaps the most fascinating as
virtual operating rooms and synthetic training environments are
being produced for practitioners and educators at break-neck
speed. In this mode, real people are employing simulated
equipment to improve physical skills and decision-making ability.