Methodist Hospital staffers bring free stroke training to Tekamah Fire and Rescue responders

Last week, Methodist Hospital staff members hit the road to provide stroke training to Tekamah Fire and Rescue’s volunteer staff.

Three Methodist Hospital staff members led the training by using the Latacha Education Center’s HAL simulation manikin, which can mimic stroke symptoms and engage in conversations, allowing first responders to practice recognizing and responding to a stroke in a realistic but safe learning environment.

Leading the training were Anna Becker, clinical simulation coordinator; Lauren Hall, stroke program coordinator; and Diane Krueger, respiratory care coordinator.

“What was most impactful for me was how appreciative and engaged this team was,” Becker said. “They want to provide the best care to their patients, and that really reflected through the simulation and training we completed with them.”

The HAL manikin was funded in part by a Nebraska Hospital Association grant. As part of the grant, Methodist Hospital pledged to provide outreach and education to rural partners in the region. The trip to Tekamah was the manikin’s first outside of Methodist Hospital for educational outreach.

The Latacha Education Center is a state-of-the-art simulation lab located in Methodist Hospital's Cardiac Unit. It is dedicated to the late Matthew Latacha, MD, a longtime Methodist cardiologist who passed away in 2023.