ICOM donates advanced medical simulators to expand emergency training in Idaho

The Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine is helping expand access to high-quality emergency medical training across the state by donating two high-fidelity adult patient simulators to regional training and emergency response organizations.

The state-of-the-art simulators are designed to replicate complex human physiological responses during medical emergencies, giving learners hands-on experience assessing and managing critical situations. The donations are expected to enhance clinical training opportunities for rural emergency medical personnel, volunteer responders and future health care professionals across Idaho.

One simulator was donated to Three Rivers STAR, a nonprofit that provides free and low-cost Basic Life Support and Advanced Life Support training to rural emergency medical agencies. Rural first responders often face limited access to training resources and longer transport times to definitive care, and officials said high-fidelity simulation offers a realistic, hands-on way to practice critical skills such as airway management, trauma care and cardiac stabilization.

“Our primary mission is to take EMS training throughout Idaho free of charge to rural agencies that can’t afford to bring in outside training or trainers,” said William Paine, director of Three Rivers STAR. “This will allow us to enhance how we can assist more rural agencies with free higher-level training.”

The second simulator was donated to the Idaho Civil Air Patrol to support the organization’s emergency services, search and rescue, and cadet programs. The simulator will give members and cadets additional opportunities to develop practical medical skills applicable to disaster response, search and rescue operations and other field emergencies.

“I have the privilege to train the more than 800 members of the Idaho Wing to prepare them for search and rescue missions,” said First Lt. Christopher B. Verkerk, Idaho Wing director of emergency services. “In addition, our cadet programs teach our youth leadership lessons that consist of career skills. This donation will be used to teach our cadets basic and wilderness first aid, as well as CPR, thus preparing them not only for a future career but also to save lives in future search and rescue missions.”

As Idaho’s osteopathic medical school, ICOM said it is committed to supporting the health and well-being of communities throughout the state, and that making advanced simulation technology available to community partners extends the benefits of hands-on medical education beyond its campus and into the communities where health care providers and emergency responders serve.

ICOM is a private medical school affiliated with Idaho State University. Founded in 2016, the college graduated its first cohort of student doctors in 2022 and educates students to become osteopathic physicians and health care leaders dedicated to whole-person care in Idaho and other underserved communities.

This story was written using artificial intelligence with human oversight.