Steven K. Howard

Administrative Appointments

• Member, Committee on Occupational Health, American Society of Anesthesiologists (2002 - present)
• Member, Resident Selection Committee, Department of Anesthesia (1997 - present)
• Member, Resident Education Committee, Department of Anesthesia (1993 - present)
• Member, Clinical Competence Committee, Department of Anesthesia (2001 - present)

Professional Education

Web Site Links

• Simulation Center @ VA Palo Alto HCS

Research Interests

Our laboratory (please also refer to David M. Gaba M.D.) is active in the study of human performance of medical personnel. We are actively involved in teaching health care personnel the technique of crisis resource management (CRM) using realistic simulation.

My research centers on the effects of sleepiness and fatigue in medical personnel. Data from our studies reveal resident physicians to be pathologically sleepy (as tested in the sleep laboratory) during normal working conditions as well as in the post on-call condition. If the same subjects are allowed to extend night time sleep by two hours for four consecutive days they return to normal states of alertness. We have evaluated the effects of sleep deprivation on clinical performance using a realistic simulator. We are currently measuring the sleep propensity and performance of health care personnel (nurses, residents and staff physicians). Our laboratory has been funded for five years by the VHA Patient Safety Center of Inquiry Program.

Publications

• Improvement in coronary anastomosis with cardiac surgery simulation. Fann JI, Caffarelli AD, Georgette G, Howard SK, Gaba DM, Youngblood P, Mitchell RS, Burdon TA. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2008; 136 (6): 1486-91
• Using the rapid response system to provide better oversight of patient care processes. Moore MS, Howard SK, Lighthall G. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf. 2007; 33 (11): 695-8, 645
• Use of cognitive aids in a simulated anesthetic crisis. Harrison TK, Manser T, Howard SK, Gaba DM. Anesth Analg. 2006; 103 (3): 551-6
• Clinicians' recognition of the Ohmeda Modulus II plus and Ohmeda Excel 210 SE anesthesia machine system mode and function. Sowb YA, Howard SK, Raemer DB, Feinstein D, Fish KJ, Gaba DM. Simul Healthc. 2006; 1 (1): 26-31
• Clinicians' recognition of the Ohmeda Modulus II Plus and Ohmeda Excel 210 SE anesthesia machine system mode and function Sowb, YA, Howard SK, Raemer DB, Feinstein D, Fish KJ, Gaba DM. Simulation in Healthcare. 2006; 1 (1): 26-31