Simulation in Motion (SIMSD) – South Dakota

Rosenbauer has been hard at work building life-saving fire apparatus every day for departments all over the world. Recently, they were approached for a much different project outside of the fire industry.medium05

South Dakota’s Department of Health was in need of a manufacturer to help spearhead a statewide effort to standardize the training of EMT’s in rural communities. This is where Rosenbauer fit into the plan.

 After a competitive bidding process, Rosenbauer was awarded the contract to build three custom, 44-foot mobile learning units. These units came fully-equipped for training, along with two, smaller outreach models, as part of the new effort by Simulation in Motion-South Dakota or SIM-SD.

 With the recent completion of these units, hands-on emergency training in rural communities where EMT’s, paramedics, nurses and doctors live will be made possible and more readily available.campaign05

SIM-SD uses a standardized training curriculum and human patient simulators to improve the quality of emergency healthcare services, all at no cost to those who will be trained.

 “It can be a challenge for rural emergency providers to get the critical-care, continuing education they need,” said South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard. “SIM-SD brings the training to them. They can practice their skills on amazingly lifelike patient simulators that realistically mimic illnesses and injuries.”

All five units have human patient simulators and a uniform educational curriculum to ensure a quality training experience for participants. The human patient simulators not only blink, breathe and cry but also can replicate many health problems. The true-to-life scenarios provide medical practitioners with interactive “patients” who will react according to the providers’ actions.

These units and the SIM-SD program was made possible with the assistance of the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, along with the partnership of the following groups: the South Dakota Department of Health, the South Dakota Office of Emergency Medical Services, the South Dakota Emergency Medical Technicians’ Association, Avera Health, Mobridge Regional Hospital, Regional Health, St. Mary’s Healthcare Center and Sanford Health.

The Rural Healthcare Program of The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust began awarding grants in 2009. In the last two years, the Trust has awarded more than $104 million in grants to nonprofit organizations in the region.

 The Trust, established in 1999, supports a diverse range of organizations, with a major focus on health and medical research, human services, education and conservation. To date, The Trust has announced more than $104 million in the region and $440 million in grants to charitable organizations.medium