Mobile training center to make a difference in rural, underserved communities

Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children (RMHC) is taking its talent on the road. The HCA Healthcare affiliate in Denver unveiled the first-of-its-kind pediatric mobile training center designed to ensure that caregivers and community members in rural and underserved areas have the skills to act in case of emergency.

“We want everybody who runs across a sick child – newborn or adolescent – to be fully comfortable, trained and competent to take care of that emergency situation,” Reginald Washington, MD, chief medical officer for Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children told the local Fox affiliate. “A child stabilized before they get to us has a much better chance of surviving. If you wait until you get to the hospital to begin treatment, you’re already behind the game.”

This innovative training room on wheels is a custom built RV equipped with:

• two simulation spaces, where participants can practice being in an ambulance bay, ER, hospital or NICU;
• on-board WiFi,
• classroom video cameras,
• debriefing TVs, and
• capabilities to live broadcast clinical training simulations.

Real-world emergencies call for real patients, too. As a result, technically advanced simulation manikins are also on board for individuals to participate in hands-on training without a risk to human patients.

Manikins Ryan, a 16-year-old adolescent, Max, a 6-year-old child, Hope, a 1-month-old newborn, and Chloe, a 25-week premature infant, will be used to focus on stabilization skills for airway and breathing troubles, teach resuscitation techniques and many more customizable scenarios.

As the largest level IV neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in the region, Rocky Mountain caregivers believed having a realistically proportioned preterm infant like Chloe will allow for true-to-life training that will help save our youngest lives.

“Medical emergencies with newborns are incredibly rare. However, it’s a high stress situation,” Ben Dunn, emergency medical services (EMS) manager at Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children, said. “So, we’re very pleased to have a manikin that can do a full assessment…and really, whatever you would need to train on in a very realistic environment.”

Amy Casseri, vice president of women’s and children’s services for HCA Healthcare, said that many hospitals, EMS providers and health care clinics outside of major cities like Denver don’t have access to high-intensity pediatric training.

“We’re proud of this unique concept that Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children has developed to bring critical pediatric training to our underserved communities,” Casseri said. “This is not only an educational outreach program but an investment in the skills and training of our parents, clinicians and communities to respond whenever a child is in need.”

The mobile training center will hit the road soon to tour in communities in Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska and Kansas.

Click here to view the local broadcasts about the Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children’s Mobile Training Center.

Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children, an affiliate of HCA Healthcare, is a member of the HealthONE system in the Denver area. 

HCA Healthcare 50th Anniversary
In 1968, HCA Healthcare was conceived by two physicians and an accomplished business leader — Dr. Thomas Frist Sr., Dr. Thomas Frist Jr., and Jack Massey. This year, HCA Healthcare celebrates its golden anniversary and the culture of caring established by our three founders 50 years ago. To help us celebrate our 50th year, we’ll share stories here that reflect HCA Healthcare’s mission – above all else, the care and improvement of human life – and our pledge to improve life and make history for the next 50 years and beyond.