Simulator is fundraising goal

ODESSA – As the May 7 date approaches for the annual fundraising event for Odessa’s medical community, the members of the Odessa Healthcare Foundation board have been working tirelessly to organize and promote its first-ever virtual auctions, both silent and live, on the website at omhf.maestroweb.com. Odessa Memorial Healthcare Center administrator John Serle has provided information to The Record on the goal of this year’s event. The purchase of new and valuable technology is what the administration and staffers want in order to help them provide the Odessa community with safe, effective, quality care.

Maintaining the clinical skills of healthcare providers can be challenging in a rural setting. In larger facilities, healthcare teams tend to specialize in one specific area. At OMHC, however, teams are expected to know a lot about many different areas, from long-term geriatric care to emergent critical patients. The competent and skilled healthcare teams at OMHC are always looking for ways to give themselves an edge through various educational opportunities and/or the use of new technologies.

The administration for the nursing staff began researching skill-building clinical simulators that could also be used in outreach and education for the community and other healthcare partners. Months of research, viewing demonstrations and visiting simulation labs in the area led to a request to the Odessa Healthcare Foundation for assistance in purchasing a simulator.

This is Susie. Susie is a Clinical Nursing Patient Simulator used by many healthcare training programs around the country. She is also a learning resource, designed to facilitate training and delivery of effective care through the use of simulation. Healthcare teams will be able to practice competency-building exercises and skills that represent realistic clinical experiences. Susie has many capabilities, including, but not limited to, breathing, talking and generating a pulse. She also has pre-programed learning scenarios, including a cardiac arrest, drug overdose and more, along with the ability to add individualized experiences created locally.

A second much needed item is the Tiko mobile patient lift. This piece of equipment is versatile and helps caregivers lift and ambulate patients that need assistance. Though not as high tech as Susie, it provides staff members with a safe and effective way to move and assist patients while minimizing the potential for injuries to both patients and staff.