It's a.....baby! MetroHealth Sim Center welcomes its newest staff member
Metrohealth's Sim Center (our simulation center that allows students and health professionals to work on "patients" in realistic scenarios) recently welcomed a brand new baby to the team.
At eight pounds, 21 inches, this baby is as real as they come in the world of simulation. It cries, it breathes, its arms and legs move, and it even blinks. Heart and lung sounds add to the realism of the experience.
The youngest member of the Sim team will be helping medical professionals perfect their skills in neonatal care for years to come.
“Nothing makes a nurse more nervous than when an infant comes in and can’t communicate,” explains Jen Kuzas, RN, a clinical nurse and education coordinator for the emergency department. “The new baby is more realistic and will help our nurses practice and be prepared to handle real situations we see in the ED."
This is the most advanced simulator baby on the market. It’s completely wireless and powered by a battery that lasts up to eight hours. Body movement is programmable, adding to the realism of the scenarios being conducted.
Some of the true-to-life scenarios include resuscitation and extracting foreign objects from the airway.
“The scenarios we can use are really limitless,” says Jared Lee, Simulation Training Specialist.
For now, the infant goes by its given name, Super Tory. But that name will soon change because the Sim Center is hosting a Baby Naming Challenge for employees.
“As a way to introduce our new baby to staff, we’re collecting items for a local domestic violence shelter,” explains Jackie Csank, manager of the Sim Center. “For every item an employee donates, they can recommend a name.”
Staff that will benefit from practicing medical intervention on baby Tory include Peds, MedPeds, the NICU, Respiratory Therapy, Labor and Delivery and the ED.
“We’re excited to provide this level of technology to our staff,” says Jackie. “We look forward to using Baby Tory to increase comfort and competence of our employees who deal with babies in crisis.
Founded in 1837, MetroHealth is leading the way to a healthier you and a healthier community through service, teaching, discovery, and teamwork. Cuyahoga County’s public, safety-net hospital system, MetroHealth meets people where they are, providing care through five hospitals, four emergency departments and more than 20 health centers. Each day, our nearly 9,000 employees focus on providing our community with equitable healthcare — through patient-focused research, access to care, and support services — that seeks to eradicate health disparities rooted in systematic barriers. For more information, visit metrohealth.org.
