New Use Cases for Healthcare Simulation, Part 4: Nursing Home Care Training

It’s no secret that the U.S. (and the global) population is aging. Credit modern medicine with increasing lifespans, but it doesn’t mean that the elderly population won’t need greater assistance in the latter parts of their lives. According to projections by the Population Reference Bureau, by 2060, the number of people aged 65 or over will increase to 95 million from 52 million in 2018. The elderly will account for almost a quarter of the U.S population at that point.

At the same time, chronic diseases are on the rise at a significant rate in this aging population. Cardiovascular disease, diabetes, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and other ailments will necessitate that much of this population will need assistance, from assisted living facilities to full nursing homes. This burgeoning increase in demand for care will also necessitate better, faster training techniques for current and future nursing professionals. Nursing simulation labs are one tool that can help. Keep reading below to learn more about how the Level 3 Audiovisual SimStation simulation suite adapts to the training requirements for skilled nursing care.

SEE ALSO: New Use Cases for Healthcare Simulation, Part 3: Wet Labs

The Benefits of AV for Nursing Home Training

As people age, they lose certain abilities. It’s not always obvious as the degeneration of mobility and cognitive functions happens slowly. The use of video and audio capture, with the ability to carefully review playback, can train professionals to spot the issues to determine where and how patients need assistance. Many nursing home patients are not there permanently; they are sent for weeks of rehabilitation after a significant fall or a stroke. These patients need assistance with promoting ambulation and range of motion, retraining the use of hands and limbs in normal activities, regaining basic cognitive skills, and reducing or preventing incontinence.

The SimStation simulation suite allows for detailed video capture of training sessions with actors and mannikins to enable nursing personnel to see the signs of issues and where patients need help. The system allows for video bookmarking for review, associated checklists for what to look for, and evaluation formats for trainers to grade students.

Portable Installations

While SimStation simulation solutions can be installed in permanent locations and facilities, Level 3 Audiovisual has found that the portable solution is popular for several reasons. The portable solution is a turnkey system with everything needed to set up a training environment. The system requires very simple setup and can be run by a small team or an individual, minimizing user training time and effort. Teaching content like lab bloodwork results, EKGs, X-Rays, training materials, and policies can all be integrated into the system for easy reference and use in training. Training records can also be retained in the system without the need to connect to other solutions. These features make it easy to move the solution to different facilities within a healthcare organization when simulation training is needed.

It’s important to note that the portable solution can run on a hotspot for internet connectivity when needed. For distance training scenarios, the system can connect to Zoom for remote viewing and participation. Should the nursing simulation lab need to connect to IT networks, Level 3 provides full documentation and details of system connectivity requirements to comply with the organization’s security and networking protocols. It’s a purpose-built, self-contained, secure solution that doesn’t need specific integration with organizational IT systems.

What’s Included

The Level 3 Audiovisual simulation solution includes everything an organization needs for nursing skills simulation training. You get a high-quality camera for detailed video capture, state-of-the-art microphone and audio processing for clear sound quality, easy software control of the camera and system, and a tablet for the instructor for bookmarking, checklists, evaluations and debriefing sessions. The simulation solution toolset also makes it easy to create training videos with detailed commentary, bookmarks, and notes. In addition, Level 3 Audiovisual includes 8 hours of onsite training with each system purchase.

Level 3 Audiovisual delivers complete turnkey healthcare training simulation solutions with professional design, installation, training, and long-term support in Phoenix, AZ and across the U.S. If you’re interested in learning more about simulation solutions for your facility or training program, reach out to us online or click the chatbox below to connect instantly.