Intelligencer Journal
Lancaster New Era

Enelly Betancourt

Sep 29, 2009 10:34 EST

A newborn baby lies crying on a hospital bed.

Nurses and specialists peer down at her, monitoring her heart rhythm and her breathing.

Her arms and legs move slightly.

The baby's breathing becomes shallow. She gasps for breath. Her lips turn blue.

The medical workers need to make a decision quickly. Can they save her?

It is all carefully crafted — for training purposes — at the Lancaster General College of Nursing and Health Sciences simulation learning area.

The role of the patient is played by SimNewB, an interactive simulation of a full-term baby.

Although the college has used traditional mannequins in the past, SimNewB is a more high-tech and realistic training tool.

"She can be programmed for a variety of complications," said Joe Corvino, clinical simulation coordinator. "The baby cries, makes sounds that clue in the staff that something might be wrong."

With a price tag of $15,000, SimNewB will be used to teach clinical decision-making skills and leadership, communication and teamwork in pediatric advanced life-support training.

"We work with different objectives like how people will respond to an emergency situation, how long they take to show up," said Frank Brophy, simulation learning specialist. "They will learn about proper treatment."

Specifically, SimNewB is a robotic baby that breathes and cries, just like a real newborn. Its arms and legs mimic the movements of a real baby.

Its state-of-the art technology is so sophisticated, the baby mannequin can recreate variations of blood pressure, pulse and oxygen patterns.

SimNewB also can be used with other simulation equipment for more complicated clinical procedures.

"She has palpable pulse, heart sounds, lung sounds, and we are able to do full assessments," said Corvino. "We put the baby in distress so the students can practice and identify a serious situation."

Before the simulator, the students had to be trained, and practiced, on real babies.

"It made it very uncomfortable," said Jessica Kamerer, facilitator for simulation learning. "Now the students can do that here."

Anatomical features of the SimNewB allow for training in all aspects of newborn airway management, blood pressure, CPR and cardiac rhythms with pulses. SimNewB even has the ability to simulate cyanosis, or blueness of the lips.

"To be able to use a simulation mannequin like this with the students is incredible," said Corvino. "It's a great way to build their confidence."

http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/242794#

Cornerstone is proud to have been the architect for the Lancaster General College of Nursing and Health Sciences Meti-Simulation Lab.