NEWPORT – Newport Hospital and Health Services has received funds from the Washington State Department of Health Rural Hospital Quality Flex Program to purchase a maternal care patient simulator for emergency obstetric education.

The NOELLE S550 Maternal Care Patient Simulator with OMNI and CD 501 Perinatal Monitors Simulation Software will not only facilitate immediate quality improvement of staff competency and provision of high quality evidence-based care, but it will have the ongoing benefit of assisting with long-term maintenance of skills and competence for the NHHS multidisciplinary obstetric care team.

Newport Hospital and Health Services is committed to maintaining the skills of obstetric team across emergency situations. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists indicates in its practice bulletins (2017, 2019) that multidisciplinary simulation-based team training has been associated with improved safety culture and outcomes in obstetrical high acuity/low frequency events. NHHS conducts quarterly training in preparation for emergency cesarean sections, neonatal resuscitation and additional annual skills review.

Recognizing the distances local clientele may travel to get to Newport Community Hospital for care and possibility of encountering inclement weather, nurse educators realize that county EMS services could benefit from the simulation training for obstetric and neonatal

emergencies. After beginning implementation of the multidisciplinary simulation-based training within Newport Hospital and Health Services, the Education Department will provide similar, setting-appropriate training to EMS providers within the NHHS service area.

The maternal patient care simulator is expected to arrive this December.