About SAFER

What is SAFER?

MISSION Making healthcare safer

VISION Pursuing Lifelong learning to develop optimal healthcare

SAFER is an independent foundation and a simulation centre established in 2006 in collaboration with Stavanger University Hospital (SUS), The University of Stavanger (UiS) and Laerdal Medical AS (LMAS). From 2025 The Municipality of Stavanger also joined the foundation. Its purpose is to harness learning-based simulation as a contribution towards improved patient safety, first and foremost by stimulating skills development among the founders’ personnel.

Together with its founders, SAFER held over 21,000 days of courses in 2024. In order to improve clincal practice and build quality, SAFER considers it important to monitor, evaluate and research so the value of simulation is maximised. This is why SAFER is also involved with professional research and course development. Stavanger University Hospital has, under the auspices of regional health authority Helse Vest, recently been assigned a task as laid out in a government White Paper for 2020-2023. This involves establishing a national collaboration to develop and utilise simulation as a training method. SUS has delegated the professional responsibility to SAFER.

SAFER forms part of an active collaborative network with world-class medical simulation centres and are spearheading the establishment and integration of simulation as a learning method in health training institutions and hospitals globally. SAFER is an active partner in the European patient simulation network, EuSim, and the only Norwegian simulation centre certified by SESAM (Society for Simulation in Europe).

SAFER offers training at all levels of the life-saving chain, from emergency call handling and basal emergency treatment for pre- and in-hospital personnel, to advanced medical treatment. Educational activity covers the various sectors of The Circle of Learning and includes skills and decision-making training, as well as full-scale simulation training – both individually and in teams. The centre’s aim is to contribute to better emergency medical training where it is possible to train on challenging, rare and potentially dangerous situations under safe conditions. Patient safety is paramount in that training takes place using trainer mannequins, thereby avoiding danger or discomfort to the patient. At the same time, this simulation equips health workers with the necessary skills and knowledge to handle uncommon emergency situations. The intent is that training and simulation at SAFER will contribute to increased clinical expertise and safety, increased patient safety and subsequently improved patient results/survivability. SAFER’s goal is to be an exemplary centre, where others can come to see how to set up their own, as well as one that participates actively in national and international networks with simulation expertise. In collaboration with the University of Stavanger, Stavanger University Hospital and Laerdal Medical, research into learning, patient safety and clinical practice is facilitated. SAFER was founded on 12^th May 2006.

How to get to SAFER

BUS To/from Stavanger city center: Just outside the main entrance to the center is the bus stop “Innovasjonsparken,” where you can take bus numbers 6, 7, X39, and X60 to/from the city center every 5 minutes. The travel time is about 20 minutes. Tickets can be easily purchased through the “Kolumbus billett” app.

Other routes that stop at “Innovasjonsparken”: 101, X73, N86

To/from Stavanger Airport Sola: Use the route that goes via SUS/UiS. 600 meters from the center is the bus stop “Professor Olav Hanssens vei,” where the airport bus runs every hour.

TAXI To/from Stavanger city center takes about 10-15 minutes. To/from the airport takes about 15 minutes. See the map below for the taxi arrival location.

TRAIN Take the train to Jåttå station and then use a city bike or bus from the station to SAFER.

PARKING There is visitor parking related to Innovasjonsparken (see parking rates below). There are very limited spaces, so we encourage carpooling or public transport if possible. Short-term parking: Short-term parking for visitors and employees without a subscription will be managed by Rogaland Parkering. Easypark zone number for all of Innovasjonsparken is 5759. The rate for payment is 30 NOK per hour, with a maximum price of 275 NOK per day.

Payment can be made at machines located by buildings i2 and i8, via Easypark, or online/invoice.

Click on the map for a larger image.

Staff

Facilitators