The Saigh Pediatric Simulation Center at St. Louis Children’s Hospital (SLCH) opened in May 2009. The Saigh Center occupies approximately 2,300 square feet on the hospital’s fifth floor and features three high-fidelity electromechanical pediatric mannequins and two simulated patient care rooms.

Our mission, to improve health care professionals’ skills and competence in caring for children through simulation-based training, is being carried out through programs involving all aspects of pediatric care. The center provides individual and team training experiences for health care professionals, residents, fellows, and medical and nursing students. It creates an environment that poses no risk to patients and allows practitioners to develop skills and experience in managing complex situations and high-risk conditions. Current research studies focus on education for physicians, staff nurses, team performance, and quality and safety concerns.

Education programs include:

  • Interdisciplinary transport team training
  • Twice weekly code training for pediatric residents
  • NICU and general floor mock codes
  • Assessment programs of pediatric and anesthesia residents
  • Pediatric Emergency Assessment, Recognition and Stablization (PEARSs) assessment and training.
  • Physician and staff nurse training in teaching parents the Asthma Action Plan

In addition, a program implemented by the Family Advisory Council using actual family members as standardized parents has been enthusiastically received by participants.

Pediatric intensivist Arushi Manga, MD, is the medical director of the center. Sarah Weyhrich, MSN, RN, is the nurse facilitator of the center.