WENATCHEE — A donation from a longtime Wenatchee physician helped Confluence Health officials buy equipment for an upgraded patient monitoring system and simulators for emergency response.  

Chris Stahler, a retired chest, vascular and general surgeon, helped cut the ribbon at a ceremony recognizing the donation and introducing the new equipment Tuesday at Central Washington Hospital. The amount of the donation was not disclosed. 

Suzanne Carte-Cocroft, vice-president of philanthropy at Confluence Health, said Stahler has an understanding of the challenges faced by healthcare workers in general and in rural areas in particular. 

“Having spent his career in the Wenatchee Valley, he wanted to make an investment aimed at addressing staffing resources and efficiencies through training,” she said. 

The remote monitoring system, sometimes called a virtual sitter or telesitter, is used for patients in need of close observation, which previously required a hospital staff member to sit with the patient. The new system uses cameras, two-way communication, predictive fall monitoring and other tools to monitor patients. It allows one employee to monitor multiple patients, said Adam MacDonald, corporate communications program manager. 

“This suite of tools allows for quicker response time and enhanced safety (and) gives other CNAs and staff more flexibility to care for more patients during their shifts,” MacDonald wrote in a press release. 

Stahler’s donation also helped pay for updated and upgraded patient simulators, mannequins that can be used to train healthcare workers in emergency and trauma response. One newborn and two adult simulators can mimic a variety of medical conditions to help staff practice their response. The donation also paid for the purchase of practice dummies for taking blood pressure and inserting an IV. 

Stahler attended the first training session where the new equipment was used, MacDonald said. 

Dave Shanley, clinical development and eLearning manager, said the new equipment replaces pieces that were outdated. The new equipment will allow for more advanced training, he said. 

    Chris Stahler, right, and Dave Shanley, Confluence clinical development and eLearning manager, with a simulation mannequin purchased with the help of a donation from Stahler.