Security is called to a room where a resident with dementia is disoriented, her daughter is frustrated, and their TV is causing disruptions for a nearby neighbor.
In this case, the resident isn’t actual human. It’s a mannequin controlled by a Lead Clinical Instructor outside of a room at MCH’s new Simulation Center, where staff are trained to respond to a variety of situations in one of the most life-like and unique training sessions of any skilled nursing facility across New York State.
“We want people to get excited, participate, and look forward to using our Sim Center,” said Administrative Fellow Dr. Kari Falter. “It's a different type of training and I think that makes it engaging and more likely that staff will remember what’s needed to respond to complex situations and medical histories.”
Hundreds of in-person training sessions have already been conducted for both clinical and non-clinical staff since the center opened roughly six months ago, after MCH received a $878,000 grant from the New York State Increasing Training Capacity program.
The grant helped MCH build a semi-private room with two mannequins that can be manipulated from a nearby viewing area to verbally respond to the actions of the staff, forcing nurses and staff to respond quickly to changing real-life situations. Another area in the center allows Lead Clinical Instructor Aurora Vega to review and discuss performance with staff.
Together, Falter and Vega have worked with nurse managers, administrators, and others to develop and deliver training sessions for staff to review how to best reduce the spread of illness by taking clinical staff through topics as Enhanced Barrier Protections, Infectious Control and C. diff.
Also, they are in various stages of developing scenarios for other departments, including rehabilitation, social work and security. Training sessions, which can occur at any time MCH is open, typically last about 15 minutes with another 15 minutes reserved for review and discussion.
“A lot of people will benefit from going through these types of trainings,” said Vega. “We wanted to make it very comfortable for staff to be here and focus on their skills but also to work as a team, communicate with each other, and receive coaching.”
While the goal of the center is to prepare staff in the most realistic setting possible with the most advanced and current information, trainings are designed to be hands-on and interactive, and may replace some current online video trainings.
“The Simulation Center is a fun learning experience,” said Vega. “It was created to help staff expand their skills in a way they never had here previously in an educational aspect. It’s here for staff and it’s enjoyable.”
THE SIM CENTER Those interested in learning more about the MCH Simulation Center may contact Lead Clinical Instructor Aurora Vega at (585) 760-6204 or AuroraVega@MonroeHosp.org.