'New' patients make training more realistic

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo
  • Air Force Print News
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) --  The use of advanced, more lifelike simulated patients at the aerospace medical service apprentice course is enhancing medical training for Airmen here attending technical school with the 882nd Training Group.

"The purpose of these patient simulators is to have the most advanced equipment that translates into the best prepared medics the Air Force can offer," said Tech. Sgt. Patrina Melson, a medical instructor in the simulated medical unit.

Simulated patients allow students to learn and practice airway placement, intravenous placement with replaceable skin and veins, injections and chest compressions. Students can check a pulse or blood pressure and listen to lung, heart and bowel sounds. The simulator also produces lifelike vocal sounds such as a cough, moan or gagging.

"It catches you off guard to here a plastic mannequin cough, moan and talk back," said Airman Basic Nicole Walton, an Air Force medical trainee. "It's like being in a real hospital."

The simulator allows instructors to program realistic scenarios to test the students' learned techniques. The course is made up of five blocks in which students learn several specific medical techniques. Instructors can combine different symptoms and scenarios to the simulator in order to challenge the students' skills.

It also provides feedback to instructors. If a trainee is not providing proper CPR to the simulated patient, the instructor is alerted on a laptop or personal digital assistant.

"It takes the guess work out of how an instructor evaluates trainees," said Staff Sgt. Dona Brady, a medical training instructor.

The staff for the aerospace medical service apprentice course acquired seven adult size simulators and one baby simulator all with functioning parts, movable limbs and realistic sounds. With eight upgraded $250,000 stations in the simulated medical unit, instructors can really get creative with the scenarios they design for students.

They can program one mannequin to go into cardiac arrest while another shows symptoms of pneumonia to evaluate how students prioritize what critical life saving techniques and procedures they will use first.

"With these simulated patients, you have an opportunity to stop, think and ask questions. With a real patient, you don't have that luxury," said Sergeant Melson.

Comprehensive training is paramount in maintaining mission success, according to the commander of the 383rd Training Squadron.

"That's why combat capable medical support starts here," said Lt. Col. Katrina Glavan-Heise.