Ken Corliss, manager of simulation operations for AdventHealth's East Florida Division, demonstrates how to deliver a baby, thanks to the simulator, who was given the name "Eve" at the event in August. Photo by Brian McMillan
AdventHealth nurses Rosa Coffey, Michele Diformato and Samantha Goodell. Photo by Brian McMillan
AdventHealth's maternity simulator, Eve, was created by Gaumard, which has created medical simulation training equipment since World War II. Photo by Brian McMillan
Wally de Aquino, president of AdventHealth Palm Coast Parkway. Photo by Brian McMillan
John Subers, executive director of the AdventHealth Palm Coast Foundation, with super volunteer Elaine Gonsalves. Photo by Brian McMillan
It was a serious demonstration of AdventHealth’s new Maternal OB Simulator Manikin, but the audience couldn’t help but giggle a few times.
Purchased by the AdventHealth Palm Coast Foundation for $110,000, the pregnant manikin gave a “live” birth on Aug. 17, at the hospital on State Road 100, in front of an audience of the hospital’s philanthropic 20/20 Society, after a buffet lunch. Ken Corliss, manager of simulation operations for AdventHealth's East Florida Division, spoke soothingly to the manikin, named Victoria.
“That’s it, push,” he said.
“Ahhhhh!” Victoria’s pre-recorded voice shouted, as she lay in a gown on a hospital bed.
“There you go, baby’s head’s out,” Corliss said, standing at the stirrups, producing the baby, rubbery umbilical cord and all.
“Is she OK?” Victoria asked.
Corliss put the “doll” baby on Victoria chest. There wasn’t much of a reaction by Victoria, as she can’t blink or move her arms, but the audience cheered.
The purchase of the simulator was no giggling matter. As Denyse Bales-Chubb, CEO for AdventHealth's Flagler and St. Johns market, explained, there are only about 900 deliveries from Flagler County residents per year, which isn’t enough to support a labor and delivery unit here. But, emergency births do happen at the Flagler County facilities, so local professionals need to be trained.
After Corliss' demonstration, Wally de Aquino, president of AdventHealth Palm Coast Parkway, quipped: “I know Victoria’s not real, but that was super uncomfortable. Am I alone in that?”
De Aquino explained that that’s exactly why the training is needed: so the emergency staff members “don’t feel uncomfortable like I just did.”
By popular vote of the attendees, Victoria was given a new name in her new home in Flagler County: Eve.
Also at the event, AdventHealth Palm Coast Foundation Director John Subers thanked the staff, as well as volunteer Elaine Gonsalves. She gave him a hug, and Subers said, “She has been in our office helping for 17 years. … She has raised more money for our Pink Army and breast cancer than any one of us combined. She is just inspiring.”
