Heyou Hospital has recently launched its fully upgraded Medical Simulation Training Center (the "Center"), which is the first in China to introduce Paul, a premature baby simulator developed by Laerdal. This state-of-the-art simulator aims to enhance the skills of neonatal care providers in managing premature babies and critically ill newborns, improving medical care quality and patient safety.
The Center is set to become a leading clinical training base, equipped with the latest simulation technology and an intelligent teaching system. It provides healthcare professionals with a deeply immersive training environment to hone their clinical skills.
Hyper-Realistic Simulation for an Immersive Training Experience
Paul is a true-to-life, 27-week premature baby simulator designed based on real-life preterm MRI scans. It combines lifelike anatomy with state-of-the-art technology. Laerdal Medical introduced this advanced simulator in May 2025, following its acquisition of the relevant company. Heyou Hospital is proud to be the first institution in China to adopt Paul, pioneering the use of this groundbreaking training tool for neonatal care.
(Paul, a premature baby simulator)
The core strengths of the premature baby simulator Paul lie in its comprehensive functionality and hyper-realistic simulation, making it ideal for training in complex neonatal first aid and care. Key features include:
- Highly realistic airway and respiratory simulation: Designed for training in endotracheal intubation, LISA (MIST) and INSURE, with simulations of both physiological and pathological breathing patterns;
- Circulation and intervention operations: A palpable pulse on all four extremities and the umbilical cord, perfect for practicing the insertion of peripheral and umbilical venous catheters.
- Sensors and feedback systems: Includes sensors for catheter depth, tidal volume, and chest compression effectiveness, plus a Bluetooth stethoscope for auscultating respiratory and heart sounds.
- Programmable patient state and patient monitors: Pre-programmed with common premature baby symptoms and customizable patient states, with patient monitors featuring layouts from various manufacturers.
Systematic Training to Enhance Rescue and Treatment Capabilities
With this high-end simulator, the Center can deliver systematic, scenario-based training programs on vital neonatal care topics, such as airway management in premature infants, respiratory support/mechanical ventilation, teamwork and clinical decision-making in critical situations, and in situ simulation in first aid of premature infants. These training sessions are designed to strengthen teamwork and elevate the medical team's ability to manage premature infants and critically ill newborns.
(The medical team of the Neonatology Department at Heyou Hospital uses the Paul simulator during medical simulation training)
According to the Head of Heyou's Education and Training Development Center, the Center is committed to delivering training with "high quality, high standards, and high efficiency." The Center offers clinical skills and teamwork sessions across multiple disciplines, including neonatology, pediatrics, obstetrics & gynecology, emergency medicine, critical care, surgery, and internal medicine. By integrating advanced technology into medical education, the Center is poised to become a key platform for improving hospital medical quality and safety, while training the next generation of outstanding clinical physicians.
Author: Sun Lei
