Memorandum 16-096 Replacement of Patient Simulator

Memorandum ID: 
16-096
Memorandum Status: 
Backup

Details

Memorandum 16-096

TO:                       Katie Koester, City Manager

FROM:                 Robert Painter, Chief

DATE:                  May 25, 2016

SUBJECT:         Replacement of Patient Simulator

The Fire Department would like to replace its now obsolete advanced patient care simulator with a new simulator. The Laerdal SimMan we purchased through donations more than 10 years ago has officially been “retired” by Laerdal, who is no longer manufacturing replacement parts or providing service for this model of training manikin. While we can still see some usefulness from this manikin it is basically non-repairable when it fails. I have conducted much research on advanced care manikins prior to recommending the first purchase and still feel that the product from Laerdal is the most cost effective one available at this time. Over the last 10 years several improvements to the system have made the new version even more attractive and useful for training of our emergency medical personnel at all levels, but especially our advanced care providers. Having a consolidated patient simulator to use allows us to practice realistic scenarios, in real time, in “real” locations and can completely encompass the patient care continuum even into the emergency department at the hospital. These same manikins are currently in use by the Kenai Peninsula College Paramedic Program in Soldotna and I have met with their Paramedic Program Coordinator about their impressions of the newer versions of the manikin. Overall they are pleased with the ease of use and advantages that the new model have over the previous model we have. They would even like to share with us patient care scenarios that they have developed in exchange for ones we develop (these manikins are computer programmed and can mimic physical responses like “real” patients).

Due to our experience and long history using the Laerdal line of products and the fact that other Kenai Peninsula departments and agencies also use the same product(s), and since Laerdal is the only distributor of the SimMan line of products nationwide, we would like to sole-source this purchase. We believe that this model, SimMan Essentials, though not the premier model being offered, is more than sufficient for our needs.

We are proposing to use monies donated to the Fire Department over the years by individuals and estates expressly for “lasting” and “meaningful” purposes. The current  Fire Donations Fund balance is $102,000, of which we are requesting a total of $64,149 to fund this acquisition. This cost includes the training manikin, the patient care monitor, dedicated instructors laptop, webcam, an extended care (3 year) warranty, and a 2-day class for up to 8 of our personnel to learn how to best use the manikin. A majority of the members have voted to support this purchase with donation money, with only 1 “no” vote received.