Thinking Big Puts Bayhealth and Its Simulation Leader in the Spotlight

Bayhealth’s simulation training leader Sarah Beebe, PhD, CNM, WHNPr, CHSE, has stepped into the spotlight again, after Delaware News Journal recently named her one of Delaware's Most Influential People for 2023.

The importance of Dr. Beebe’s role in leading the newly opened PCOM (Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine) Simulation Center at Bayhealth was cited in the newspaper’s recognition statement.

The News Journal noted: “Beebe is set to make a big difference in how Delaware's doctors are trained, as well as play a role in bringing more health care providers to Kent and Sussex counties.”

A southern Delaware native, Dr. Beebe underscores the importance of the simulation center to the area and embraces her own role as Graduate Medical Education Simulation Lab Program Manager in helping to increase the number of well-trained providers in Delaware.

“Our residency program provides a pipeline for more providers in the state,” she said, adding proudly that the training programs she runs at the center are for both medical residents and current Bayhealth clinicians.

“Any of our clinicians can learn in this space,” said Dr. Beebe, noting that nurses are frequently using the center to train. “We’re working toward increased patient safety and achieving excellence of care at Bayhealth, and that effort includes all clinicians here.”

Dr. Beebe said that the center’s state-of-the-art equipment is what sets Bayhealth apart from other hospital systems in the area.

“That equipment is special for a hospital of our size,” said Dr. Beebe, emphasizing that, although Bayhealth is a community health system, it offers the same depth of simulation resources of a larger teaching facility.

Dr. Beebe expressed her pride in the latest developments at the center in terms of new equipment, personnel, residents, and recognition. She noted the following:

• The center’s newest addition is a surgical cut suit that allows realistic surgery practice for clinicians. Worn by a human or manikin, it’s made of silicone and has a layer of Kevlar® to protect human skin.
• In April, the center will add a second employee to the roster — Dan Wagner, who comes to the center from Nursing Education. He will be the Simulation Operations Specialist (and will handle operations and the technical aspects of the center).
• This summer, for the first time, Bayhealth and the center will host Emergency Medicine residents, adding to its General Surgery, Internal Medicine, and Family Medicine residencies.
• And, by summer’s end, Dr. Beebe anticipates the center’s achieving provisional accreditation (typical for a new center), following a site visit by the Society of Simulation in Healthcare (SSH).

What inspires Dr. Beebe as she drives the center forward are the many goals that simulation training can achieve.

“In addition to offering clinician training, we’re using the simulation center to trial new processes and procedures, to test current processes, and to improve patient care,” said Dr. Beebe.

She gave the example of collaborating with the nurses of the soon-to-open Bayhealth Total Care.

“Dan Wagner and I have been working with the nurses to figure out what processes and procedures need to be practiced before the doors open. We will be able to troubleshoot specific patient scenarios and make changes based on that practice, before the first patient arrives — saving time, money, and improving patient safety.”