Modeling and Simulation in the Medical and Health Sciences

This edited book is divided into three parts: Fundamentals ofMedical and Health Sciences Modeling and Simulation introducesmodeling and simulation in the medical and health sciences; Medicaland Health Sciences Models provides the theoretical underpinningsof medical and health sciences modeling; and Modeling andSimulation Applications in Medical and Health Sciences focuses onteaching, training, and research applications. The bookbegins with a general discussion of modeling andsimulation from the modeling and simulation disciplineperspective. This discussion grounds the reader in commonterminology. It also relates this terminology to conceptsfound in the medical and health care (MHC) area to help bridge thegap between developers and MHC practitioners. Three distinct modesof modeling and simulation are described: live, constructive, andvirtual. 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 medicalmodeling and simulation. In constructive simulation, simulated people and simulated equipment are developed to augmentreal-world conditions for training or experimentationpurposes. The virtual mode is perhaps the most fascinating asvirtual operating rooms and synthetic training environments arebeing produced for practitioners and educators at break-neckspeed. In this mode, real people are employing simulatedequipment to improve physical skills and decision-making ability.