Three patient simulation dummies - an adult, a child, and an infant – are now available for students to practice on at Heart of Georgia Technical College in Dublin, thanks to USDA funding provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
“This technology will allow students training for healthcare careers to get a broader range of experience much closer to home,” said Shirley M. Sherrod, Georgia state director for USDA Rural Development. “It will also allow for continuing education by those already in the field. Very few schools have this state-of-the-art technology and it will be a real asset to Heart of Georgia Technical College.”
The simulator dummies will be used in the school’s allied health department to train health care professionals. Virtual simulations can be programmed to mimic real life conditions, providing a broader range of training than might be available in a rural medical setting. Through programming, the dummies can provide varied “human” sounds and indicate different symptoms.
“With this award, we will better position ourselves as a premier provider of cutting-edge training in the medical field,” said Dr. Randall L. Peters, president of the college. “Our competent staff will certainly welcome this state-of-the-art training aid. Our students and the citizens of our region will certainly reap the benefits.”
Funding for this project came through USDA’s Rural Business Enterprise Grant (RBEG) program, which provides funds to spur the economy and create jobs in rural areas.
“When we invest in education, it is always money that is well spent,” Sherrod said. “Keeping health care professionals well trained benefits us all.”
Health care students in Georgia work with a human patient simulator funded by USDA through the Recovery Act.