Product Knowledge
How Do Barcode Scanners Increase Patient Safety?
Healthcare providers are constantly challenged to ensure that each patient receives the correct treatments and medications. QR and 2D Barcode scanning is now used routinely to confirm that practitioners are administering treatments to the correct patient. It is also used in other applications to make healthcare more accurate and prevent dangerous medical errors. In this blog, we will go more in depth with this technology and how it is used to promote patient safety.
Epinephrine Training: Simulated Epinephrine for Mock Codes
Epinephrine, more commonly known as adrenaline, is the primary emergency drug for treating Sudden Cardiac Arrest. Epinephrine activates beta- and alpha-adrenergic receptors throughout the body. Alpha-adrenergic effects cause peripheral blood vessels to contract, raising the blood pressure in the central circulation. This helps shunt blood flow to the brain and the heart. Beta-adrenergic effects increase heart rate, contractility, and automaticity which can promote Return of Spontaneous Circulation (ROSC) after cardiac arrest. Prefilled epinephrine syringes are included in crash carts for rapid IV administration during resuscitation.
Simulation & Education
Respiratory Care Week: Promoting Best Practices for Respiratory Therapy Through Simulation
Every year, the third week of October marks Respiratory Care Week, a time dedicated to recognizing respiratory therapists (RTs) for their invaluable contributions to healthcare and raising awareness about lung health. As the prevalence of respiratory diseases continues to rise, from asthma to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the role of respiratory therapists has become more critical than ever. This week is an opportunity to honor the expertise and dedication of RTs, while also emphasizing the importance of advancing best practices through innovative training methods like simulation-based education.
The Ultimate Guide to Stocking Your Sim Lab
Simulation labs allow students to master essential clinical skills in a risk-free environment, effectively bridging the gap between skills training, theoretical coursework and clinical rotations. However, starting a simulation lab from scratch can be overwhelming due to the vast array of available supplies and equipment. Continuing reading to learn more about our top recommendations to help educators enhance the quality of healthcare and education!
National Nursing Assistants Week - Mastering Basic Nursing Skills
This week celebrates the hard work of nursing assistants everywhere. CNAs play a crucial role in the healthcare system, providing essential care and support to patients in various settings. Teaching nursing assistant skills is both a rewarding and challenging endeavor, requiring a blend of theoretical knowledge, practical application and compassionate instruction. Whether you're an educator in a formal classroom setting or a mentor in a clinical environment, here are some key strategies to effectively teach basic nursing skills to prepare the future generation of nursing assistants.
Promoting Best Respiratory Practices in Healthcare Education Programs
From the bustling emergency department to the serene corridors of long-term care facilities, understanding and implementing best respiratory practices are essential for healthcare professionals across all specialties. As the world continues to grapple with respiratory challenges, from infectious diseases to chronic conditions, the importance of robust education programs cannot be overstated.
Simulation Training with Reconditioned Alaris Infusion Pumps
In the fast-paced world of healthcare, training and preparedness are paramount. One area where this is particularly crucial is in the operation of infusion pumps, which play a vital role in administering medications and fluids to patients. Simulation training in healthcare education programs and C.E courses with infusion pumps has emerged as a powerful tool in ensuring that current and future healthcare professionals are equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to use these devices safely and effectively, enabling them to deliver exceptional patient care.
Using Training Headwalls to Create a Simulated Critical Care Environment
Simulation training has become a cornerstone in healthcare education. It offers a safe environment for students and healthcare professionals to practice and perfect skills, make mistakes and learn from them without real-world consequences or real danger to patients. One crucial element in medical simulation training is creating an environment that closely mimics real life clinical settings. Educators and healthcare facilities can implement training headwalls into their skills and simulation labs to create realistic scenarios and enhance the learning experience. In this blog, we'll explore the benefits of utilizing training headwalls from DiaMedical to create a realistic critical care environment for healthcare simulation training.
Promoting Best Practices for Infusion Therapy with Simulation Training
Infusion therapy refers to the administration of fluids, medications or nutrients directly into a patient's bloodstream through a needle or catheter. It is commonly used in various medical settings, including hospitals, clinics and home care, making it a vital skill to master for students entering the healthcare field. With the help of simulation equipment, educators are able to provide students with practice that closely mimics real-life clinical settings. Simulation training with equipment like Alaris Medley Infusion Pump Systems from DiaMedical allow students to master skills like infusion therapy without risk to real patients. This style of training enables students to enter the healthcare field with confidence in their ability to provide the Standard of Care throughout clinical practice. To ensure the safety and effectiveness of infusion therapy, here are some best practices:
Teaching Best Practices for Injection Safety
Safe injection practices are a vital part of ensuring the safety of both healthcare providers and patients in regards to the prevention of needlestick injuries and transmissible diseases. Best practices for injections are part of Standard Precautions and a vital lesson to teach in healthcare training programs. Teaching students best practices can help prepare them for real clinical settings and minimize the risk of needlestick injuries leading to blood borne infections, especially hepatitis C. Continue reading below to learn more about safety needles and injection trainers and the role they play to protect providers from this dangerous blood-borne infection.
Choosing the Right SimServeRx™ SmartCart for Your Program
Automated Medication Dispensing Systems are now standard fixtures in hospitals to prevent medication errors in nursing, streamline inventory management and reduce diversion of controlled substances. They are also complex tools that require hands-on training before use with patients in clinical settings. The SimServeRx™ ESS Bedside SmartCarts are designed with this purpose in mind as they allow students to use an eMAR, barcode scanner and electronically controlled drawers to practice patient safety with medication administration. However, it can be challenging for educators to decide between the Bedside SmartCart and the Advanced Bedside SmartCart for their simulation lab. Continue reading to learn more about which option is best suited for your program and healthcare simulations.
Improving EMS Training & Education with SimRig The Ambulance Trainer
The importance of simulation in healthcare education has been well established but creating realistic learning environments for EMS programs has traditionally been a challenge. As a result, students have few opportunities to practice essential skills such as securing a cot and initializing treatment in the confined space of an ambulance. DiaMedical recognized this need and created SimRig The Ambulance Trainer to help prepare all levels of EMS students for their first day on the job.
Advancing Healthcare Education with Your New SimServeRx™ Medication Management System!
Adding an automated medication dispensing system to your simulation lab is exciting but it can also be a daunting task for educators who are not familiar with the advanced technology. Thankfully, the SimServeRx™ medication management system is specifically designed for ease of use with pre-programmed patient profiles that make it ready to “plug and play” right away in your sim lab. Continue reading to learn more about what to expect when a SimServeRx™ Medication Dispensing Cabinet or Bedside Administration Cart arrives on your campus.
How to Utilize Remaining Funds to Enhance Your Training Programs
The end of the school year is the perfect opportunity for simulation lab directors to take a look at their supplies and equipment to determine what will be needed for the next year. Any leftover funds can be used to make these purchases, but budget deadlines are approaching quickly. DiaMedical is ready to help with a wide variety of healthcare training items that are ready to ship.
Choosing the Best Manikin for Your Curriculum
Manikins and simulators are a great way to enhance healthcare education, as they bring a new level of realism to traditional classroom settings. When utilized in simulation scenarios, students are able to get more in-depth practice on various skills and procedures, creating an opportunity to master skills validations and gain the confidence to perform in a real-life situation. DiaMedical is a provider of hundreds of manikins, simulators and skills trainers from several manufacturers for a wide range of curriculum and program needs. From pre-hospital and emergency scenarios to specialized care like obstetrics and pediatrics, DiaMedical has you covered. We also offer a wide variety of high and low-fidelity manikins so instructors have all the tools needed to teach students any skill, no matter how advanced. These high-fidelity simulations made possible by some of our medical manikin options provide a key advantage by allowing students an opportunity to immerse themselves in a clinical setting that looks and feels life-like (1). This level of realism supplied by full-body manikins that mimic human physiology is highly beneficial when it comes to preparing future health professionals for real-life scenarios in their practice.
Prioritizing Pediatric Simulation Training in Healthcare Education
Though pediatric simulation scenarios in healthcare education aren’t practiced as heavily as other simulation scenarios, data shows when being treated for life-threatening events, infants and children have higher mortality and morbidity rates (2). This can in part be traced back to the weaknesses that have existed within pediatric emergency care for quite some time. Pediatric care is not simply a scaled down approach to adult care, as it’s specialized and requires a different skill set and expertise. Specific training that teaches physicians to recognize the physiologic and emotional differences in care between infants/children and adults is vital in order to effectively meet the healthcare needs of pediatric patients (1).
Medication Safety Week: Reducing Medication Errors Through Healthcare Education & Training
Medical error has climbed to be among the leading causes of death, with a large portion attributed to various medication errors in nursing like improper dosage or wrong infusion rate. In response to the alarming statistics on preventable harm, the week of April 1st-7th is recognized as Medication Safety week. In efforts to draw awareness to the importance of patient safety with medication administration, it’s crucial that both consumers and healthcare professionals are educated in medication management, storage and usage. This week aims to reduce medication error through means of education and training, as well as encourage understanding of pharmaceutical interactions with other drugs, supplements and foods. At DiaMedical, we are proud to be the exclusive provider of the SimServeRx™, a medication management system that educates students on the importance of the 5 rights of medication administration.
The Global Obesity Crisis: Implementing Bariatric Care Into Healthcare Education Training
Obesity has become increasingly prevalent in recent years among Americans and has been at the forefront of conversation in the health sphere due to these rising rates. In 2020, the prevalence of obesity in U.S. adults was estimated to be 42.4%, with worldwide rates having tripled from 1975 (4). With the severity of this disease, it’s more crucial than ever to raise awareness and education, as well as place an importance on training future healthcare professionals on how to care for bariatric patients. Organized by the World Obesity Federation, March 4th is recognized annually as World Obesity Day to shed light on the global obesity crisis. Their goal is to end prejudice and bias against obese individuals while simultaneously highlighting the various factors that contribute to high obesity rates. Continue reading to learn more about obesity factors and the training methods instructors can implement to break down the barriers for caring for bariatric patients.
SimVS Nurse Call System: Enhancing Patient Prioritization & Delegation Skills
Two of the most complex skills for nurses to master are prioritization and delegation. They must decide what needs to be done first and who is best suited for the task. There may be some instances when nurses have the time to make these choices thoughtfully, but quick decision making is usually what’s needed in today’s fast-paced healthcare environment. Medical simulation training is the best way for students to learn how to prioritize and delegate patient care tasks as it allows them to make these difficult decisions independently with no risk to patients. Continue reading to learn more about how educators can integrate these types of nursing simulation scenarios into their curricula.
Starting the New Year with Loaded Crash Carts
Each new year brings the promise of new purposes, hopes, opportunities, and goals. While many New Year’s resolutions focus on losing weight or exercising regularly, they can also include implementing new teaching strategies with your students. For healthcare training programs, this could include mock code simulations with Loaded Crash Carts from SimLabSolutions to improve recognition of cardiac arrest and adherence to AHA guidelines. Continue reading below to learn about the benefits of implementing these mock codes into your curriculum.
Simulating Vehicle Extrication With SimRescue
A common challenge instructors face is delivering quality, hands-on exercises for students. By enabling students to demonstrate what they learned in a realistic way, practical experience is vital to applying the skills acquired in the classroom. Simulating these life-like situations has proven to be helpful to students not only as a way to perform skills more in-depth, but to instill confidence for when a real-life situation happens. SimRescue helps bridge the gap of realistic practice for vehicle extrication training by delivering a safe and effective solution. In this blog we will explore the SimRescue product features and the benefits of implementing it into training programs.
Using Simulation to Teach Best Practices for Long-Term Care
Though simulation training is most commonly associated with acute care emergency scenarios, it is also ideally suited for many long-term care programs. In fact, simulation is becoming increasingly important as patient acuity in assisted living and skilled nursing facilities has surged over the past few years (1,2). Long-term care simulation labs are now essential components of RN, LPN and nursing assistant programs, as they enable students to safely practice skills in a controlled environment under the close supervision of instructors. There is no risk to patients and students have opportunities for clinical decision-making that are not possible in clinical settings. Continue reading below to learn more about how educators can use simulation to better prepare students to provide safe patient care in every type of extended care setting.