The Record Special Sections Health Quarterly 02-17-2019 | Page 6

6 ❚ SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2019 ❚ THE RECORD
HEALTH QUARTERLY / ADVERTISING SECTION
HOLY NAME MEDICAL CENTER
Trainees Readied for ‘When It Really Matters’
F
or decades, simulation education
was limited to the aviation industry,
where it enabled pilots to fly a variety
of planes without leaving the ground.
Today, simulated learning is an invalu-
able tool in a number of fields, none more
important than medical care; specifically,
for emergencies that arise.
Healthcare providers must always be
ready for the unexpected – a heart attack
during treatment, a severe allergic reaction
to a medication, excessive bleeding after
childbirth or a host of other problems that
can develop. So, how do doctors, nurses,
emergency responders and other profes-
sionals practice for life-threatening events
that may occur during routine care?
in Healthcare, uses child and adult man-
nequins that speak, breathe and bleed.
Female ones give birth, and all can have
allergic reactions, trauma, heart attacks
and strokes. In some scenarios, actors
portray patients’ loved ones to help parti-
cipants learn better communication skills.
The Institute’s 4,800-square-foot facil-
ity contains areas outfitted like operating
rooms, doctors’ offices, and even living
rooms. The ISL offers a variety of courses
to clients, which may include hospital staff,
outside organizations such as first respond-
ers, professional caregivers, physicians’
office personnel, student nurses and ado-
lescents looking to enter the medical field.
Each course, customized to focus on the
PHOTO COURTESY OF HOLY NAME MEDICAL CENTER
Participants at Holy Name Medical Center’s Institute for Simulation Learning practice
CPR on adult and child mannequins.
Holy Name Medical Center provides
training using real-world situations in simu-
lated settings with computer-controlled
mannequins. The hospital’s Russell Berrie
Institute for Simulation Learning (ISL),
the only simulation center in New Jersey
accredited by the Society of Simulation
clients’ specific learning goals, is filmed,
assessed and then reviewed. Some ses-
sions provide credits to ongoing education
requirements.
HOW IT WORKS
In each scenario, participants are given
standard information about the patient –
Learning Through
Simulated Emergencies
for example
in one prac-
tice a young
man had
overdosed
on opioids. Participants use computer-programmed mannequins in real-life set-
The setting tings at Holy Name Medical Center’s Institute for Simulation Learning.
was the
hospital emergency room and he had just
The Institute not only creates real-life
arrived. The clinicians in the training ses-
crises for participants to improve physical
sion were told he had been given Narcan,
expertise, it focuses on developing more
a medication that reverses the effects of an compassionate communication skills with
opioid overdose. He wasn’t responding.
patients and their loved ones.
As the doctor and nurses desperately
“Initially, the Institute was about improv-
tried to revive the patient, his overwrought ing skills but now it has become an integra-
father came into the room screaming they
tion of multiple specialties,” said Michael
needed to save his son while pushing them
Maron, president and CEO of Holy Name.
out of the way to get near him. It’s a turn
“It is transformational in how we care for
of events the trainees weren’t expecting. In patients, and how the staff works together
an instant, they decided who would switch
as a team, while anticipating negative
from caring for the patient to calming down events that may threaten a patient’s life.”
the dad and stop him from interfering with
Angelica Berrie, president of The Russell
their treatment.
Berrie Foundation, said the Institute pro-
They assured the father that they were
vides imperative opportunities for medical
doing everything they could and he quietly
staff members to practice life-saving care
left the room, saying he couldn’t watch
on multiple levels. The Foundation has
the life-saving measures being performed
donated $5 million to expand the physical
on his son. Several minutes later, the
setting, staff and equipment of the Institute
20-something man was pronounced dead.
at Holy Name.
The clinicians were as still as the patient.
“Simulation learning gives confidence
A short time later, the specially trained
to staff members – not only for their medi-
simulation staff lead the education por-
cal skills but for the emotional side of their
tion of the training. They reviewed the
job,” Berrie said. “There’s a lot of burnout
video of the simulation and talked about
in caregivers when you’re so close to trag-
what worked and what didn’t. Could the
edy. It helps them to talk about it. This is
team members have improved on the care
such an important part of healthcare.”
they provided? Could they have saved the
DIFFERENT PROGRAMS
patient? Were they sensitive and forthcom-
The Institute offers a variety of courses
ing with the dad?
to frontline health providers as well as
Cedar Wang, a nurse practitioner and
other populations such as office personnel,
director of Simulation Education who is
teenagers and caregivers.
recognized nationally for her expertise in
n Safe Sitter Class -- adolescents learn
simulation, explained how hands-on train-
childcare, safety, first aid, and life and busi-
ing offers a different perspective than a
ness skills.
conventional educational environment. An
n Dementia tour –- caregivers of elders
emotional experience has a much larger
with cognitive deficiencies try to master
impact and sears the event into the brain.
everyday tasks while their vision, hearing
“Simulation training offers the per-
and hands are impaired.
fect environment to practice skills and
n Breaking Barriers in Care -– health-
to make sure we (medical providers) are
care providers gain insights into the chal-
ready when it really matters,” Wang said.
lenges faced by patients with intellectual
“Communication and teamwork are some
and physical disabilities.
of the soft skills that really make a differ-
For more information, visit similuation-
ence in the care we provide.”
learning.org or call 201-227-6254.