HSHS St. John’s Foundation unveils EMS mobile simulation training lab

To provide area emergency medical service (EMS) providers with the most realistic and comprehensive training environment available, HSHS St. John’s Foundation recently secured a mobile simulation training lab for use both inside and outside the hospital. This equipment to enhance the skills of first responders was possible thanks to financial support from the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association Education and Research Foundation, Medics First, Inc., Hospital Sisters of St. Francis, America Ambulance and memorial contributions for former St. John’s colleagues Al “Doc” Lewin and Amy Jones, RN.

Housed in an ambulance, the sim lab will be used for recertification training, skills and process improvement, equipment familiarization and more.

Matthew Roberts, NRP, CCP, LI is the EMS educator/facilitator for HSHS St. John’s Hospital. He said the sim lab will allow EMS providers to train with new technology and fine-tune current practices to optimize patient outcomes. “The sim lab has iSimulate technology which is iPad-based and a Lifecast body simulation manikin. The manikins are extremely realistic and hand painted to look like an actual human, and the web-based technology allows providers to stream simulations to a remote location for independent review and feedback.”

Recreating situations EMS agencies have faced in the field to share learned moments is also a priority.

Beverly Neisler, chief development officer for HSHS St. John’s Foundation, said the hospital recognizes the importance of effective training and education for our first responders. “Giving our EMS providers the very best environment to learn benefits everyone in the communities they serve.”

The sim lab is available to area providers who are part of SAMIC, or Springfield Area Mobile Intensive Care System. SAMIC was created at St. John’s in 1976 following the inception of the Emergency Medical Services System in 1971. Today, St. John’s EMS System encompasses 13 counties, with 68 transport and non-transport EMS services, along with five associate and participating hospitals providing emergency care throughout the region. These agencies represent nearly 1,400 EMTs, advanced EMTs and paramedics.

For more information, visit samicems.org.