SMART STAT Patient Simulator as ‘Reaslistic as Humanly Possible’

Orange County, N.Y. EMS officials chose to purchase SMART STAT patient simulators from Simulaids because of the features and realistic proportions, says Michael Walton, Director of EMS.

“We wanted them to be as realistic as humanly possible,” Walton says. “We’re getting more bang for our buck with these than any others we saw out there.”

The simulators can be used in the lab or in the field and are controlled via iPad. Their features include spontaneous breathing, blood pressure, normal and emergent heart and lung sounds, 12 pulse points synchronized with the heart, EKG interpretation and cardiac treatment, IV catheterization and infusion, tension pneumothorax treatment, chest tube insertion with simulated drainage and advanced airway maintenance.

Orange County EMS has three simulators: the newest was purchased about three months ago, while the first two were purchased about four years ago and upgraded to work with the iPad. 

Walton says the simulators were purchased with homeland security funds and have been utilized for WMD training. Ultimately, he hopes to set up a simulation lab.

Most frequently, the simulators are used most for the basic EMT class.

“We have a scenario set up for the students and they’re expected to treat the simulator as they would a normal patient. It basically does what most people will do," Walton says.

Now, he adds, they set aside class days where simulation is all they do. The reasoning is that they can create situations that they otherwise wouldn't be able to demonstrate. “We can’t change people’s blood pressure or send them into v-fib,” Walton says.

The simulators are not only effective, but popular with the students. “They love it,” Walton says. "They say, ‘When are we going to use the simulators again?’ They would love to do that every class.”

Visit simulaids.com.