NORFOLK, NE - Northeast Community College was the site of a launch ceremony recently for one of four new trucks designed to train medical technicians in Nebraska’s rural areas. The “Simulation in Motion” truck was unveiled by the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC)’s Simulation in Motion-Nebraska (SIM-NE) program at the J. Paul and Eleanor McIntosh College of Nursing on the Northeast campus.
Measuring 44 feet long, the truck includes two slide-out room extensions that house a simulated ambulance interior and emergency room. Medical personnel will have the opportunity to train on five state-of-the-art mannequins who breathe, blink, register vital signs and can simulate a variety of conditions.
“Northeast continues to be a partner with SIM-NE and UNMC in providing hands-on simulation training for healthcare providers in our service area,” said Dr. Michele Gill, dean of health and wellness at Northeast. “The unique realistic training with education for our health providers and students is an awesome learning opportunity that we are excited to participate in.”
“Simulation training and scenario-based exercises afford an in-depth learning environment that can train providers on site to keep skills updated and bring the training right to their doorsteps.”
At the “Simulation in Motion” launch event, Brian Monaghan, program manager at SIM-NE, said UNMC is a statewide university that is always exploring more ways to serve the state as a whole. He said the SIM-NE program addresses the training challenges faced by rural critical access hospitals and rural EMS agencies.
“Somebody has to stay home and take care of patients at the hospital when everyone goes to continuing education classes. With our program, we can take high-fidelity simulation mannequins and bring those mannequins directly to (rural areas) so everyone can train at the same time. You train together, so you train on teamwork as well.”
The truck is temporarily being housed at Nucor Steel and will soon be kept at the City of Norfolk’s fire training tower. The other trucks will be stationed in Kearney, Lincoln and Scottsbluff, where UNMC has nursing programs.
The program is funded by the Helmsley Charitable Trust, which has sponsored similar initiatives in Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota.
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PHOTO CUTLINE
The “Simulation in Motion” truck, unveiled by the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC)’s Simulation in Motion-Nebraska (SIM-NE) program, sits in front of the J. Paul and Eleanor McIntosh College of Nursing on the Northeast campus recently. (Courtesy Northeast Community College)