Midland Health's Auxiliary Gift Shop has donated over $84,000 to purchase a new birthing simulator after the previous one expired. The shop donates all profits to Midland Health departments as part of its status as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, according to Director of Auxiliary Services Jackie Geiling.
The Auxiliary Gift Shop sells flowers, wreaths, clothing, tumblers and other items, all selected by Geiling to ensure they are locally or American made. The items and community sales events raise funds for projects, according to Geiling.
The Auxiliary department works with President and Chief Executive Officer Stephen Bowerman to identify departments in need of additional funds.
Stephen Bowerman informed Geiling of the need for a new birthing simulator, or manikin they have named "Noelle," in the Labor and Delivery department, The previous manikin, used throughout the hospital for over 1,000 simulated births, expired and was inoperable, according to Bowerman.
“Noelle is a high-tech birth manikin that allows medical staff to train for various medical emergencies during delivery and additional care,” said Monique Wilson and Derek Sanchez, both registered nurses and simulator program coordinators, during a Midland Times tour of Midland Health. “Our manikins look realistic, complete with fake blood, urine, adjustable medical codes and even the ability to speak and moan.”
Labor and Delivery and Mother Baby Educator Casey Weems, RN told Midland Times about a nurse who trained on the manikin after a four-month medical leave. “The very next day, she had a patient who turned critical,” Weems said.
According to Weems, because of the manikin, “she was able to step in as if she hadn’t missed a single day of work.”
Midland Health is one of the few hospitals in Texas that has its own training simulators. Only nine hospitals in Texas are accredited to use simulators for training, and Midland Health is awaiting its accreditation, according to Wilson and Sanchez.
The hospital utilizes various manikins across different departments, including pediatrics, surgical, and geriatric wards. The new birthing simulator is expected to be in use by October 2024. Meanwhile, the training simulator supplier has provided a “loaner baby” manikin, according to Sanchez.
“Our Auxiliary department is amazing and has a prominent plaque on our wall of donors for all they have done for the hospital,” according to Bowerman.
For more information visit https://www.midlandhealth.org/
Derek Sanchez - RN and Simulator Program Coordinator