Health providers honing skills

Sim Man has arrived at the Dartmouth General Hospital.

He could have any number of medical problems.

He may cry, bleed, convulse and go into cardiac arrest.

But if you look closely, you can tell that this patient is not human.

His job is to deliver the most realistic training possible.

And he can communicate with his students.

Sim Man is a state of the art simulator, a teaching tool that can be programmed to recreate typical situations in both an inpatient and emergency department resuscitation room.

Last week, the Dartmouth General received a $40,000 cheque from the auxiliary as part of their three-year contribution of $120,000 for the simulation room.

“The centre of the simulation room is Sim Man,” said Adrienne Malloy, president and CEO of the Dartmouth General Hospital Foundation. “He grunts, he blinks he has pulses. The emergency team can certainly hone their skills on Sim Man.”

Malloy is thankful for the auxiliary.

“Their commitment toward the sim room is wonderful. They do a significant job. In fact, the auxiliary predates this hospital.”

Since 1973, these volunteers have been contributing their time and talents and raising funds for the Dartmouth General Hospital.

To date the auxiliary has contributed more than $1.72 million to the hospital.

They have over 134 members who volunteer and contribute to the auxiliary’s fundraising projects.

Carol Peet is one of their volunteers.

“I have worked with the auxiliary for approximately five years, and have volunteered in various departments of the hospital such as the gift shop, emergency, visiting volunteer and the palliative care clinic. I have also been on the executive for a number of years in the positions of membership chair, vice president and for almost the past year as president.”

She had some family members who had been on the auxiliary for a number of years.

“So, when I was looking for a volunteer experience they encouraged me to join. I feel the Dartmouth General Hospital is a very integral part of our community, and it certainly has been a fulfilling way for me to give back to our community. I would encourage anyone who is looking for a similar experience to consider volunteering at the Dartmouth General Hospital.”

The volunteer positions are varied.

“But the main way the auxiliary generates money is by sales in our gift shop. Our gift buyers do an excellent job of determining what our clientele would like, and we encourage anyone looking for gifts for any occasion to check it out. Also, during the year we have quilt and gift basket raffles, bake sales and our Holly Tree Bazaar in November.”

The auxiliary has recently finished their financial obligation to the foundation to fund a series of movable security walls for the emergency department.

Membership in the auxiliary is open to anyone.

Peet said she feels lucky to have been involved with the purchase of Sim Man.

“This is extremely valuable to the hospital.”