Real Life Experience: Hospital Simulation for EMT Course Students
Students in ICJA’s EMT course taught in collaboration with Hatzalah Chicago headed down to the Cook County Hospital simulation center to train in their state-of-the-art facility on April 4.
From the beginning, the inaugural EMT course for science credit has been completely hands on and practical, but last week’s lesson brought so much of the students’ training all together. Ten seniors along with Lead Instructor and CFD Paramedic, Jake Dickman, spent an afternoon in the same facility used for educating nurses and physicians. Matt Strzalka, Region XI EMS Coordinator, and Jillian Spratt from the Sim Lab Staff, ran the students through scenarios requiring them to assess and treat mannequin patients. While students in pairs listened to lung sounds and immobilized their patients, the other students were able to watch and hear everything going on from the briefing room.
After all the students performed a couple of scenario rounds, the group headed to the set of Chicago Med where medical writers and trauma surgeons, Drs. Dennis and Schlanser, showed them the entire set and what goes into making the show. Propmaster Chris Shader explained how much of the equipment used is real and functioning and explained the deadlines and demands of filmmaking. A few students even became honorary doctors and employees of Gaffney Chicago Medical Center and were given ID name tags from the show.
Hatzalah CPR Instructor, Karli Salinger and Hugo’s Hero Co-captain, Sammy M., joined the class as well.