Hospital celebrates 1-year anniversary of bionic robots

The words “bionic robot” for most people conjure images popularized by sci-fi culture – half-human, half-machine creatures that take over the universe and try to bring down the human race.

But the bionic robots at the Bloomington Hospital Clinical Simulation Laboratory have a more philanthropic purpose: to teach medical students real-life patient scenarios.
In the time since its opening a little more than a year ago, 2,200 students have used the robots to get hands-on experience with hospital situations they would not otherwise have access to, according to a press release.

“We can’t be exposed to everything in the hospital, so these give us an opportunity to be with all our classmates and see what each other is doing,” said Lindsay Seizys, a senior in the nursing program.

The robots, each called a “SimMan,” are made of substances like rubber, plastic and wire but resemble humans in many more ways than a mannequin. They have an anatomically accurate bronchial tree, a pulse and the abilities to react to symptoms and speak to their “caretakers.”

The lab, which has two SimMan robots as well as one of their bionic-robot predecessors, is also host to “SimBaby,” an infant version of the SimMan the lab acquired in February.

Simulation specialist Jason King said the robotic technology has helped students focus more on the clinical situations at hand and less on taking directions from the instructor.

“It’s helped with the learning as far as it’s a lot more realistic,” King said.  “Like when I’m running simulation back here ... they are free to do their own thing.”

Senior Jamie Russell, also a nursing major at IU, said working with the SimMan helped her understand what working with a real patient is like, but found the lab a generally stressful experience. She mentioned the SimMan’s talking in particular to be taxing.

“It’s very stressful when they talk to you,” she said, noting that they would say things like “I’m not feeling well” as well as cough and make vomiting sounds.

The lab hosts simulations for IU nursing and medical students, Ivy Tech Community College nursing and EMT students and Bloomington Hospital employees in several departments.

King said the use of SimMan robots, produced by Laerdal Medical, is a trend that has become especially popular in metropolitan areas in the last year, but the ones used in the Bloomington Hospital Clinical Simulation Laboratory are the only in the region. The next-closest SimMan being used for medical technology is in Indianapolis.

The lab was awble to purchase the SimMan and SimBaby robots because of a grant from the state. Support has come from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development through the South Central Region 8 Workforce Board, Inc., according to a press release.

King said more and more people are starting to see the value of SimMan technology, and he’s looking forward to excitement generated about the newer SimBaby.
“It’s definitely gonna take off,” he said. “I can see that.”