Medical students test skills on dummy

Chris McCarty

Central students, faculty and medical professionals gathered Wednesday to examine a rather unorthodox patient.

A mechanical plastic mannequin replaced a living patient during a state-of-the-art demonstration by MedSmart Inc. and Laerdal Medical Corp. U.S.A.

“A patient simulator is a hands-on tool through which we are able to reproduce normal things, but also more difficult things you may or may not see in your life (as a medical professional),” said Rick Ritt, Medical Corp. U.S.A. simulation specialist. “It makes learning fun.”

Ritt, who has worked as a paramedic for 24 years, travels the country to educate faculty, staff and to sell simulators.

The afternoon demonstration went well, said Timothy Pletcher, Center for Applied Research and Technology director of research.

“It was absolutely fabulous,” he said. “We had an unbelievable turnout.”

There are more than 400 patient simulators in various locations throughout the world, Ritt said.

“For example, the University of Chicago uses them,” he said. “All the major places have them. They are now also making their way into community colleges for nursing, physician assistant programs, respiratory therapy and the like.”

Kawkawlin graduate student Kevin Brokaw said the simulators would help medical students.

“I can see where it would be helpful,” he said. “Any way we learn how to do it, it would be a lot easier to practice on a non-real person.”

The patient simulator is able to interact with students through audio responses as well as recording the student’s progress.

“When students are done working with the simulator, it has taped them and they can see how they are interacting and the outcomes,” Ritt said. “They are then able to debrief and see how they can do better next time.

“It’s a way for professors to evaluate competency, and licensing can be based on how students perform with the simulator.”