Stan's the Man(nequin)
Stan owes his life to dentists.
He was having his third molars removed July 29 when a reaction to his medication caused his heart rate and oxygen level to suddenly plummet. Quick action saved his life--such as it is.
Stan is actually a School of Nursing patient simulator (Standard Man) that was trotted across campus to help dental students and residents practice clinical skills on a crisis-prone, though highly undemanding, patient. With lifelike physiological functions, Stan is an invaluable teaching tool that can be programmed to help students campuswide, according to Dr. Lori Schumacher, assistant professor of advanced practice nursing.
“Simulation is a wonderful mechanism to provide a realistic educational experience not only for students but for professionals,” said Dr. Schumacher, who teamed with Dr. Henry Ferguson, associate professor of oral and maxillofacial surgery, to introduce Stan to dental students.
Stan’s crisis wasn’t real, but the participants’ response was. They utilized an adjunct airway, administered intravenous medications, performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation and applied an automated external defibrillator. “Participants actually perform rather than verbalize what they would do in this type of circumstance,” said Dr. Ferguson.
Plans are under way for more collaborative health care training using simulation, Dr. Schumacher said.