Meet Paul: Our new state-of-the-art, preterm sim manikin
- Perth Children's Hospital Foundation
Meet Paul: Our new state-of-the-art, preterm sim manikin
- Perth Children's Hospital Foundation
Introducing our brand-new, ultra-realistic sim baby manikin, Paul.
Funded by Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation (PCHF) with the support of ToyBox Australia, Paul is the first ‘high fidelity’, extremely pre-term size manikin in Western Australia. A high fidelity manikin is an advanced, lifelike simulator used in healthcare education, which closely imitates how the human body works.
Modelled after a real 27-week preterm baby, Paul was developed by a team of medical and design experts and is set to help teams at King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH) and Perth Children’s Hospital (PCH) to deliver highly realistic, world-class neonatology training.
Weighing just over 1kg and measuring 35cm, Paul is packed with next-generation features, making him one of the most advanced and realistic neonatal sim babies available today.
Dr Emma Harris, Consultant Neonatologist and Sim Education Lead at KEMH said: “At KEMH, we deliver the most preterm babies under 28 weeks in Western Australia, so it’s essential our staff are well-trained in caring for our smallest, most vulnerable patients.
“Before Paul, we only had access to full-term-sized high fidelity manikins. Participants would often comment on how big the manikin babies were, which presented a barrier to how immersive our training scenarios could be. With Paul, we can practice responding to complex, high-stress and emergency situations without putting patients at risk, ultimately improving outcomes for vulnerable premature and low-birth-weight babies.”
Paul’s cutting-edge design includes 3D-printed upper airways based on MRI scans of real babies, enabling medical professionals to practice life-saving techniques like intubation (inserting a breathing tube into the windpipe).
This advanced simulation helps healthcare professionals to practice vital skills that can significantly improve both short-term and long-term health outcomes for preterm infants.
Other key features of Paul’s high-tech design include:
- The ability to insert a catheter into the umbilical vein
- Realistic breathing patterns with chest rise and fall
- A detectable pulse in the arms, legs, and umbilical cord
- Heart, lung, and bowel sounds heard via a Bluetooth stethoscope
- The ability to simulate mechanical ventilation and practice chest compressions
- Intravenous (IV) access to administer fluids and medications
- Lifelike facial features and real hair
David Barrett, PCH Simulation Educator, said: “Research shows that replicating the stress and anxiety of real-world situations in training scenarios leads to better retention of knowledge and skills, ensuring healthcare professionals are as prepared as they can be when it comes to emergencies.
“For premature and low-birth-weight babies, that first hour of life – the ‘Golden Hour’ – is crucial. By practicing standard processes and protocols during this time, we can reduce risks like hypothermia, low blood sugar, poor lung function, and brain bleeds, which can be common in preterm babies.”
In addition, Paul’s wireless design makes him easy to transport, allowing for on-site training in the Neonatal Unit, training courses at both KEMH and PCH and with the Neonatal Emergency Transport (NETs) team.
Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation CEO Carrick Robinson said: “This flexibility ensures our healthcare professionals can access top-tier training wherever it’s needed.”
In addition to honing practical skills, simulation training helps to improve teamwork and communication during high-stress moments, such as when newborns are placed in incubators or undergo invasive procedures like intubation or chest drainage. By working together in these challenging scenarios, staff also learn how to connect more effectively with parents and families.
Mr Robinson said: “Paul is not just a manikin; he’s a game-changer when it comes to neonatal care. By offering world-class training, we can empower medical teams at KEMH and PCH to deliver the best possible care for our most vulnerable patients.”
