November 16th, 2009
SimMan teaches, saves lives, looks a little freaky

Laerdal’s  SimMan 3G simulates a variety of illnesses and responses to treatments.

STAFF REPORT

SimMan 3G may sound like the name of a new computer game, but it is actually a mannequin that simulate a variety of medical conditions for health care training.

Central Texas Medical Center (CTMC) in San Marcos is the first of four hospitals in Central Texas to introduce Laerdal’s SimMan to health care employees. The simulated man made its debut at a Hands-on Simulation Workshop this month.

SimMan is capable of simulating varying degrees of seizures and convulsions, eye signs, secretions, and wounds that bleed both from arterial and venous vessels.  He, or it, has real time CPR feedback and an advanced Drug Recognition System that allows the administration of drugs and the appropriate physiological responses.

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center’s Anita Thigpen Perry School of Nursing received a $250,000 grant from the RGK Foundation for the establishment of a mobile simulation education program in conjunction with the F. Marie Hall SimLife Center.

The program teaches nurses, nursing students, clinics and hospitals using the simulation technology. Its mobility means that despite geographic distance and budgetary restrictions, the training can reach a variety of health care professionals.  In addition to CTMC, the hospitals participating in the grant are Peterson Regional Medical Center in Kerrville, Seton Highland Lakes Hospital in Burnet and Hill Country Memorial in Fredericksburg.

“Studies have shown that integrating simulation education with traditional teaching methods increases patient safety and competency of health care professionals,” said Sharon Decker, Director of Clinical Simulations for the F. Marie Hall SimLife Center and Covenant Health System Endowed Chair in Simulation and Nursing Education.

The mobility of the program will allow rural interdisciplinary health care professionals to get competency evaluations and continuing education and training programs that they would not otherwise receive.

“We are excited that local medical professionals will have the opportunity to receive education using the SimMan 3G,” said CTMC Chief Nursing Officer Lana Cameron.  “Hands-on experience with a simulator is a more effective way to learn how to handle a variety of medical situations.”

For more information about the mobile simulation program or other education opportunities, visit ctmc.org or call CTMC Clinical Educator Becky Schroeder at (512) 753-3730.