Thanks to donor funding, caregivers at St John of God Ballarat Hospital will have access to advanced training and simulation facilities.
A state-of-the-art upgraded simulation suite, which includes a simulator mannequin, artificial arm for IV training, tracheotomy doll, and airway management torso, was generously funded through a gift from the Oliver Family Foundation.
Josh Stott, Quality & Development Manager at St John of God Ballarat Hospital, said finding out about the donor-funded upgrade was very exciting.
“The feeling of excitement was very evident,” said Josh.
“I was excited for my team, but more for the caregivers and patients that would benefit from this.”
Josh explained that the upgrade would have many benefits for caregivers and trainers, including giving students the opportunity to work through simulations independently.
“We have been able to turn the ‘sim room’ into really a ‘simulation zone’, isolating the trainers from the trainees when performing Advanced Life Support and general patient assessment,” he said.
“The trainers’ desk is now enclosed with a one way mirrored window, and upgraded software and microphone, to enable the trainers to be behind the screen watching, and to remotely change the conditions of the ‘patient’ spontaneously - as in real life.”
Josh also expects that the upgraded training suite will improve caregivers’ ability to assess and care for patients, and in turn, improve patient outcomes.
“We have purchased a new, state-of-the-art geriatric sim doll, which was on the wish list to enhance the care and outcomes of our elderly patient cohort. This allows the educators to teach more efficiently and caregivers to demonstrate better assessment skills, and improve verbal communication - especially for undergraduate students and graduates. It also improves wound care assessment, chest auscultation and identifying the deteriorating patient,” he said.
“The new airway management torso will help students to practice airway management and intubation on a regular basis, and the tracheotomy doll will help to manage and care for patients with tracheotomies, as well as understanding how to trouble shoot.”
Josh said that he hoped the new space would enhance caregiver skills and improve care for the community.
“I envision that now we have a better working and training space, this will allow more simulated and hands-on training for caregivers to enhance their skills, and improve care, outcomes and overall experience for patients, as well as their carers and families,” he said.
St John of God Foundation CEO Bianca Pietralla said that the generosity of the Oliver Family Foundation would be felt by the entire community.
“It was great to spend some time at St John of God Ballarat Hospital recently to meet our generous donors from the Oliver Family Foundation and showcase the new training and simulation suite they have helped to enable at the Hospital,” she said.
“Thank you to the Oliver Family for your dedication to improving health care outcomes in the Ballarat community.”
Read more heart-warming stories at www.sjogfoundation.org.au/impact.
Pictured: Jill Oliver, Andrew Oliver and Dr John van den Broek with St John of God Ballarat Hospital CEO Alex Demidov