Providers from Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton and Navy Medical Center San Diego collaborated for a training and simulation exercise at NHCP Aug. 24-26.

The three-day training included one day of medical lectures and two days of simulation.

"The training was based on the obstetrical and subsequent pediatric care that we provide here at NHCP, especially in emergency situations," said Lt. Cmdr. Eric Terpstra, OB-GYN Department dead. "This type of training allows us to highlight any potential weaknesses and improve upon our processes."

During the simulation portion, providers were broken into groups that dealt with different childbirth scenarios; some of which included a normal childbirth, a prolapsed chord and a cesarean section in the operating room. In some cases, after safely delivering the baby the team had to deal with a post-partum hemorrhage or a neo-natal resuscitation.

NHCP's simulation lab played a big role in the training by providing and controlling high-fidelity mannequins that are programmed to deliver a baby and respond as if it were actually in labor.

"Our job in the sim lab is to provide the tools needed to simulate any medical scenario and add realism to the training," said Mona Cruz, NHCP simulation operation specialist. "We provide life-like scenarios in order to enhance proficiency and skills of medical providers."

The training and simulation evolution involved obstetric providers, pediatric providers, anesthesia providers, family medicine providers and residents, obstetrical nurses, postpartum nurses, pediatric nurses, operating room nurses, respiratory therapist, surgical technologist, hospital corpsmen, laboratory department and blood bank, radiology department, facilities department, quarterdeck and staff education and training department all working together to improve the perinatal product line.

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