New High Tech Training Helps High Risk Babies, Adults at Salem Hospital (AUDIO)

Salem Hospital staff members are training with SimBaby to brush-up on high risk infant procedures.

Photo By: Tim King

(SALEM) - While you`ve probably have heard of airline pilots training on flight simulators to practice various in-flight emergencies, you more than likely have not heard of SimBaby.

SimBaby is a life-like mannequin that provides nurses realistic conditions for practicing a number of delicate infant care procedures.

Debbie Goodwin, Salem Hospital`s education service manager said `SimBaby allows nurses to take their training to the next level in a much more realistic setting."

Part of SimBaby`s realism is it`s ability to cry, breathe, and even have an irregular heart beat.

`It`s a wonderful tool not only for learning, but for training on high risk procedures in a non-life threatening environment," said Jeanie Bauer a clinical nurse educator at Salem Hospital.

SimBaby is not cheap.

The cost of the baby and computer used to program it was $23,000, which was paid for by a grant from the Salem Hospital Foundation.

The hospital also recently purchased two SimMans, which uses the same technology as SimBaby, but allows nurses to train and practice adult procedures.