Thanks to The LifeFlight Foundation, the Department of Public Safety, and the Maine Health Access Fund, Sebasticook Valley Hospital (SVH) is able to offer its doctor, nurses and emergency medical technicians Human Patient Simulator training in a $1 million RV especially equipped for the purpose.  The RV is stationed on-site at SVH for the week of August 21 - 24 and allows medical professionals to practice on an adult and child mannequins.  SVH is one of 21 hospitals the RV will travel to in Maine over the next 48 weeks.

The simulators are designed to very closely mimic the types of situations encountered in an emergency department or during emergency transport.  For instance, the mannequin can bleed, have seizures, can be given shots, and staff can perform procedures from putting in breathing tubes to amputations.  The training includes closed circuit television which allows the staff to be critiqued.

SVH will be kicking off a community capital campaign this fall to raise funds for trauma services with funds going to the LifeFlight Foundation and for the purchase of a new SVH Ambulance.  Part of the funds raised for LifeFlight help fund the Human Patient Simulator.