DiaMedical Journal

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.

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.

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.

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 fall. Any leftover funds from the 2022-2023 school year can be used to make these purchases, but deadlines for spending are approaching quickly. DiaMedical is ready to help with a wide variety of healthcare training items that are ready to ship.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Hospital beds for long-term care have undergone a total transformation in the past 30 years. For instance, manual hand cranks at the foot of the bed have been replaced with convenient hand pendants and footboard-mounted master control panels and full-length side rails have been discontinued in favor of quarter-length. The new Lynacare™ HC107 Hi-Low Hospital Bed was designed with these best clinical practices in mind and many others as well. Continue reading to catch up on the latest research findings and how the HC107 promotes evidence-based best practice in long term care.

Every day, life-saving blood transfusions are needed in healthcare facilities across the world. Annually in the United States, more than 14 million units of blood are transfused from nearly 11 million blood donors. Most patients do not experience any side effects from their transfusions, and this is due to the knowledge and skills of the clinicians caring for them. One of the best ways to teach aspiring doctors, nurses and lab technicians how to perform these procedures is simulation training. Participating in structured simulation scenarios not only improves clinical skill performance but enhances confidence in performing critical interventions. SimRx Signature Simulated Blood Bags are an essential component of this training because they look and feel just like real blood products.

When it comes to an emergency at a hospital each type of clinician needs to understand their role. Doctors, nurses, and specialists are flooding patients rooms ensuring they receive the proper care. This is an extremely stressful situation and, unfortunately, even the most veteran hospital employees can get overwhelmed and start making mistakes. Hospitals encourage departments to constantly work to improve their skills through simulation. However, as explained by Michelle Stearns from Vermont Technical College “training happens within specific departments ‘silos’ and prevents collaboration between different departments”. Encouraging this level of collaboration early on in the healthcare education process sets a realistic foundation for our future healthcare professionals.

Healthcare education initially started with life-like simulation and transformed in the late 1960’s to synthetic model simulation. Though patient simulations were very realistic, they were not the most efficient and effective ways to test students. Life-like simulation was a risk, more expensive, less flexible, and not worthwhile for teaching institutions. Once manikins and models were introduced to the world of simulation, students were able to practice certain skills and techniques as frequently as they needed in order to correct mistakes and did not run the risk of putting their simulated patients in danger.

Years ago, patients who required advanced medical therapies like feeding tubes, IV infusions, and mechanical ventilation were cared for in the hospital or a long term care facility. Today, these patients can stay at home with the support of an interdisciplinary home care team. Not only is their care cost effective, but they enjoy a higher quality of life than their hospitalized peers. The demand for home health care services has grown since the COVID-19 pandemic as inpatient hospital beds have become scarce. Of course, there is a corresponding need for home care clinicians who can provide the advanced care that these patients require. As a result, training programs are adding home care rooms to their sim labs to help students practice outside acute care settings. Continue reading to learn more about why this is important and how to create a home care sim lab of your own.

Summertime is here and students are enjoying a break from their studies. Summer is also the ideal time for sim lab coordinators to get their medical equipment ready for the next school year. The common misconception is that maintenance is only required when the issue strikes, but this run-to-fail strategy can present safety risks and increase long-term costs. Preventative maintenance is one of the most important tasks that facilitators should consider, as it keeps equipment safe and ready to use for students and instructors throughout the upcoming school year. There are eight examples of medical equipment that require professional preventative maintenance measures before a years long worth of use, most of which are already in simulation labs.