Newsworthy

Stormont Vail Health is expanding team education and clinical readiness at its Flint Hills Campus in Junction City through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) Healthcare Upskilling and Training Grant. For the Flint Hills community, this investment supports local care teams’ ability to respond confidently to complex medical situations in a variety of settings.

The grant funded the addition of a high-fidelity simulation manikin, enabling clinical teams to practice advanced patient care scenarios in a realistic, hands-on environment. The simulator can respond to medications, display changing vital signs, and replicate emergency situations, supporting skill development, teamwork, and patient safety.

“Our teams care for a wide range of patient needs every day,” said Erin Plummer, Flint Hills Campus Surgical Services Director. “This grant allows us to strengthen training locally, so our clinicians are prepared to continually elevate the care they deliver.”

Designed to mirror real-world clinical conditions, the manikin is fully mobile and tether-free, allowing simulations to take place in patient rooms, emergency spaces, and other care settings. Teams will build confidence, clinical judgement, and teamwork skills through training scenarios including medication reactions, cardiac and respiratory emergencies, seizures, and sepsis.

Training with the new simulator is expected to begin later this year, supporting onboarding, advanced care unit education, and continuing professional development for Flint Hills Campus staff and regional partners.