Ventilators for Healthcare Training

Written by
DiaMedical
Published on November 3, 2021 at 2:53:00 PM PDT November 3, 2021 at 2:53:00 PM PDTrd, November 3, 2021 at 2:53:00 PM PDT

Acutely ill patients receiving breathing support and mechanical ventilation require a trained medical team of respiratory therapists, nurses and emergency medical professionals to care for them. The COVID-19 crisis has created a huge need for ventilators and healthcare professionals who can manage them in acute care settings as well as long term care facilities and medical transport. Instructors can use simulation to help students quickly gain the skills needed to safely care for patients receiving assisted ventilation. Ventilators and simulators enable students to practice hands-on techniques and improve their performance without putting real patients at risk. As the students gain experience with the ventilators during their training programs, they hone the skills that are needed to ensure better outcomes for their patients. In this blog post, we will describe various types of ventilators and simulators that instructors can use to help their students learn how to safely manage patients who require mechanical ventilation. 

Ventilators for Healthcare Training

DiaMedical USA offers tablet-based ventilator simulators like the SimVS Hospital Complete with VentiSim and the SimEquip Ventilator Simulator. These are specifically designed for use with patient manikins for nursing and respiratory therapy programs. They provide interactive learning experiences for classrooms, skills labs and dedicated simulation centers. Simulators share many of the same features as real ventilators including invasive and non-invasive ventilation options, variable flow patterns, and monitored patient data. Some ventilator simulators are even available for specialized patient care areas, such as the SimEquip Anesthesia Simulator. The SimVS Pre-Hospital Transport and SimEquip Transport Ventilator were customized to meet the learning needs of students in flight nursing and paramedic programs.

Instructors find that simulators have multiple advantages over real ventilators, especially the two-way wireless communication that allows instructors to constantly monitor student actions and adjust patient parameters accordingly. Instructors have the option to use pre-programmed scenarios or they can easily create their own using the simulator software. Each ventilator setting change is displayed on the instructor’s tablet in real time for comparison to built-in checklists in order to facilitate objective measurement of student performance and structured debriefing.  

Another significant advantage of simulators over real ventilators is the ability to adjust the patient’s FiO2 to any desired level in response to blood oxygen levels or prior to suctioning. Integrated oxygen sensors within real ventilators require the FiO2 to stay at 21% in order to prevent triggering alarms. Real ventilators require special manikins that have anatomically correct airways and chest structures while simulators can be used with any type of high or low-fidelity patient manikin. Finally, simulators give instructors the ability to upload media files such as x-ray films, 12-lead EKGs and ABG results directly to the student tablets at specific times during simulations.  

 New and Reconditioned Ventilator Options

A wide range of ventilators are available for educators to use for demonstrations, skills validations and interdisciplinary simulations. They allow students to practice on the same machines that they will use in patient care in order to become familiar with the functions and displays. 

  • Respironics Vision BiPAP ventilator: A cost-effective option for non-invasive ventilation training. BiPAP is ideally designed for interdisciplinary CHF and COPD simulations as a treatment option to avoid intubation.  
  • Carefusion LTV series: A slim, compact design that is ideal for medical transport, long term care and home settings. They have a wide variety of modes to provide breathing support for adult and pediatric patients who weigh at least 5 kg. LTV ventilators are well suited for nursing, paramedic and respiratory therapy programs.
  • Puritan Bennett 840: A full-size ICU ventilator that can be used for critical care courses and interdisciplinary simulations. It is an advanced unit with a DualView touchscreen display, trending software with event markers, and high-performance pneumatics. The Neonatal version of the 840 ventilator can provide breathing support for infants who weigh as little as 300 grams. 


What type of ventilator is best for my program? 

The COVID-19 crisis has created an immediate need for practitioners who can safely manage patients receiving mechanical ventilation. Ventilators and tablet-based simulators are innovative, cost-effective teaching tools for learners of all skill levels in nursing, EMS and respiratory therapy programs. Students can quickly master basic and advanced ventilation management skills when they are provided with opportunities to work through realistic patient care scenarios in a safe learning environment. New and refurbished ventilators allow students to practice using real patient care equipment while tablet-based simulators foster development of clinical decision-making skills. 

It can be difficult for instructors to know which ventilator or simulator is best suited for their program. The DiaMedical USA team is ready to help programs balance cost and functionality in order to find the right ventilator to meet the learning needs of their students. Patient circuits, intubation supplies, BiPAP masks and skills bundles are also available to provide complete training solutions for instructors. For more information, reach out to a DiaMedical USA expert at 877-593-6011 or info@diamedicalusa.com