Simulation Program

Program Benefits

Simulation is an invaluable educational tool designed to utilize the learning potential of trial and error, reflection and observation. Learning this way allows for immersion in realistic situations while maintaining complete psychological safety. This has direct benefits to Care New England’s culture of safety by:

• Improving the dynamics of our patient care teams - building confidence, improving communication, and refining critical thinking skills.
• Testing new equipment and developing training protocols to improve medical team performance, reduce infections, decrease medical errors and reduce health care costs.
• Providing opportunities for practice and skill refreshing, as well as training for rare and potentially fatal events.
• Serving as a laboratory to research and understand potential safety issues associated with new techniques and protocols in the care of women and newborns and to fully explore these risks before local and national implementation.

Program Scenarios

The Women & Infants Simulation Program offers health care providers an excellent opportunity for education, training and research with a variety of customizable clinical simulations.

Among the ones we offer are:

• Adult and neonatal resuscitation
• Shoulder dystocia, forceps, breech deliveries
• Laparoscopic and robotic surgical procedures
• Obstetrical emergency protocol development
• Disaster and evacuation planning
• Leadership workshops
• Safe patient handling
• Difficult conversations in neonatology, obstetrics, gynecology and oncology

State-of-the-Art Equipment

We offer the latest in simulation equipment, including:

• Newborn Tory™ S2210 – ultra-realistic and interactive full-term neonatal simulator with intervention feedback, used for Neonatal Resuscitation Program training.
• Premie HAL® S2209 –interactive 30-week premature infant patient simulator, with intervention feedback, used for Neonatal Resuscitation Program training.
• Sophie and Mum – highly realistic birthing model can simulate cephalic birth, breech birth, and shoulder dystocia with ultra-lifelike stretching of the perineum.
• IV Training Arms – adult arm reproduction with multi-vein system designed for peripheral intravenous therapy.
• LulzBot TAZ6 3D Printer – desktop 3D printer can print small scale models and teaching tools.
• SimNewB – an interactive simulator, with realistic feedback, designed to meet Neonatal Resuscitation Program training requirements.
• PROMPT Birthing Simulator – teaches the complexities of birthing so participants can experience childbirth and practice the necessary skills.
• SimCapture – controlled web-based audio and video for live feed and debriefing review of various procedures, such as:
  • Ectopic Pregnancy Model – allows clinicians to develop and practice first trimester transvaginal ultrasound exams.
  • Episiotomy Repair Model – a three-stage system for teaching episiotomy, suturing and repair of episiotomy and second-degree tears.
  • Newborn Infant Venous Access Model – an anatomically correct representation of a female baby to teach vascular accessing of newborns and infants.
    
    
• Central Venous Access Module – teaches cannula approaches and insertions of central venous catheters into the superior vena cava, with and without ultrasound guidance.
• Diagnostic Breast Trainer – life-size breast to train for examination procedures and diagnostic techniques.
• Office Hysteroscopy Set – allows clinicians to practice introducing and using the Hysteroscope.
• LaproTrain – high-resolution video optics and a complete set of instruments that offer a realistic laparoscopic training experience.
• Female Pelvis Model – an anatomical and tactile representation of the female pelvis for hands-on examination and diagnosis of pathologies and abnormalities.
• MamaNatalie Birthing Simulator – a birthing simulator that makes it easy to create very compelling simulations of complex or normal birthing scenarios.
• Koken Breastfeeding Modules – used for various kinds of practice in infant nursing.
• Difficult Airways Simulator – used to simulate an obstructed airway and is designed for training the management of difficult airways.
• mamaBirthie - ideal for basic skill acquisition and competency development for all stages of labor and can be used as a tabletop model for demonstration or worn to facilitate simulation.
• Newborn Nursing Skills and ALS Simulator - used for meeting objectives of the Neonatal Resuscitation Program's course curriculum.
• Micro-Preemie manikin - represents a 25-week-old neonate with a variety of built-in features that make it a very life-like and easy-to-use training aid for many scenarios.

Laurie Hoffman, MD

Laurie Hoffman, MD, is co-director of the Simulation Program. She is a graduate of the University of Connecticut School of Medicine and completed residency in pediatrics at Hasbro Children’s Hospital and fellowship at Women & Infants Hospital.

Kyle J. Wohlrab, MD, FACOG