One of the most futuristic features of NCH is its incredible Judith and Marvin Herb Family Simulation Center that allows healthcare professionals, first responders, students and others to train for real-world scenarios in simulation rooms, including fully functional operating rooms. This education hub was fully funded by philanthropy, including a recent gift from Bill and Lynn Martin that sponsored a new high-fidelity, lifelike mannikin named “Sophie.” The sim center also includes a virtual dissection table and other innovative equipment for learning patient safety, how to perform procedures, process improvement, teamwork and more.
Thanks to generous donors Rick and Sara Werder, we also have a way to take elements of our sim center on the road now – a van that can be driven to all NCH facilities and other locations to help train staff and local emergency personnel. We’ve already used the van for 20-plus events and training at all four of the NCH freestanding emergency rooms.
Recently, our trainers took the sim van and a high-fidelity mannikin named “Magnus” to the NCH North Naples Hospital for a night-shift training with staff at 5 a.m. (pictured here). This training will help NCH clinicians enhance their communication, boost team performance for cardiac arrest, and ultimately, improve patient outcomes.
“This van gives us the flexibility to move any of our high-fidelity mannikins and other equipment like stretchers from the main NCH Baker Hospital in downtown Naples to all of our satellite campuses,” says Internationally Board-Certified Simulation Educator and Operations Manager Hope Goodwin, RN, MSN. “We’ve been able to run ‘code blue’ emergency exercises at NCH North Naples Hospital at any hour. By providing multidisciplinary simulation training to nurses, physicians, respiratory therapists, techs, chaplains, pharmacists, and other leaders and clinicians, we can help improve outcomes across the board with patient safety, better communication, and satisfaction among staff and patients.”
Just last year, Becker’s Hospital Review named NCH as one of the “34 hospitals and health systems with great simulation and education programs.” In 2023, the Judith and Marvin Herb Family Simulation Center provided more than 18,000 learner hours of training, and in 2024, we hosted more than 20,000 learner hours. If you want to tour NCH’s simulation center or learn more about donating, please call the Center for Philanthropy at (239) 624-2000 or give today at NCHmd.org/donate.
