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<p>PLAINS TWP. &#8212; The Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center recently completed construction of a simulation lab, featuring lifelike &#8220;manikins&#8221; that can mimic a variety of medical situations and illnesses that doctors, nurses and others might encounter in the hospital.</p><p>The manikins can even speak.</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;m hungry,&#8221; said one manikin at a recent demonstration. &#8220;And I haven&#8217;t had any pain medication.&#8221;</p><p>Although the responses of the manikins can be startling and sometimes draw a bit of nervous laughter, staff at the center say their use improves the quality of patient care by training staff in real time and lifelike situations.</p><p>For instance, a team of medical students may be required to rush to the side of a manikin simulating a cardiac arrest.</p><p>As they work to get the heart of the manikin started, instructors can cause the manikin to vomit, repeatedly shut down his heart or make it have a seizure.</p><p>Susan Lewis, chief of staff development at the center, said simulations allow medical and nursing students to hone their skills without fear of causing harm to a patient.</p><p>&#8220;If they are going to make a mistake, we want them to make it here where they can learn from it,&#8221; she said.</p><p>Lewis said students also become familiar with equipment.</p><p>&#8220;If they practice on a crash cart, they know just where to grab things in an emergency,&#8221; she said. &#8220;No time is lost.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;This is a positive learning experience in which we reinforce best practices,&#8221; Sharon Schippang, education specialist at the center, said.</p><p>Dr. Mirza Ali, interim medical center director, said the lab also makes it possible for those who have been away from clinical practice for a while to refresh their skills.</p><p>&#8220;Even someone who&#8217;s been in administration and wants to return to clinic practice can utilize the lab,&#8221; he said.</p><p>The bottom line, said Ali, is patients get care second to none.</p><p>&#8220;The data shows simulation is key to training and learning,&#8221; said Ali. &#8220;We have a lot of low-frequency but very high-risk events that can happen. They don&#8217;t happen often, but when they do, you don&#8217;t want to waste time. You want to do flawlessly what you&#8217;ve practiced many times before.&#8221;</p><p>Students and staff can also practice medical procedures such as endoscopy and laparoscopy.</p><p>Also available is a manikin to assist them in learning how to transport patients, especially contagious patients, in the event of an evacuation.</p><p>Accompanying &#8220;hands-on&#8221; experience in the lab are nearby classrooms and a library.</p><p>Ali said staff members at the center are re-certified every two years to ensure proficiency in a variety of skills.</p><p>&#8220;We are asking our patients &#8212; veterans &#8212; to trust us,&#8221; he said. &#8220;We want to live up to their trust.&#8221;</p><p>Ali said the center serves as a resource for the medical community with students from such institutions as The Commonwealth Medical College, Drexel University, Misericordia University and King&#8217;s College using the facility.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Dr. Mirza Z. Ali explains the control room&#8217;s function in the simulation training room at the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center in Plains Township. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_simulation02-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Dr. Mirza Z. Ali explains the control room&#8217;s function in the simulation training room at the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center in Plains Township. </caption0><photoCredit0>Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_simulation01-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center nurses, from left, Joyce Fiore, Sharon Schippang and Susan Lewis work a medical emergency simulation at the medical facility&#8217;s training room Thursday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_simulation01-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center nurses, from left, Joyce Fiore, Sharon Schippang and Susan Lewis work a medical emergency simulation at the medical facility&#8217;s training room Thursday. </caption1><photoCredit1>Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Doctors, nurses and students can take advantage of facility</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Geri Gibbons</p><p>ggibbons@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Geri Gibbons at 570-991-6117 or on Twitter @TLGGibbons</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center lab a learning tool for doctors, nurses, students