UPMC Health Van

The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s (UPMC) Health Van is a mobile learning laboratory for paramedics and emergency medical physicians that combines state-of-the-art audiovisual and simulation technology for training purposes.

The UPMC Health Van is used primarily for paramedic training and disaster response as well as for community health screenings and medical coverage for special events. The van has enough space for two fully equipped hospital emergency treatment rooms and has a triage area, which can be used for filling out paperwork during health screenings. The van is also wheelchair accessible.

“The UPMC Health Van serves a unique dual purpose,” says Paul Paris, MD, FACEP, professor and chairman of the department of emergency medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. “The van will not only be used for paramedic training, but also for a variety of health promotions such as public immunizations, health screenings, smoking cessation, and chronic disease management.”

Paramedics have the opportunity to train on patient simulators that can be programmed to present with a multitude of breathing difficulties (i.e. stemming from choking, suffocation, or trauma). “One of the most challenging problems for emergency responders is maintaining a patient’s airway in the field. Our goal through simulation training is to reduce both medical errors and the amount of time it takes for safe airway management,” says Daniel Swayze, MBA, MEMS, EMT-P. By using equipment jointly developed with Tri-State Video Services, paramedics wear a Laerdal MedicCam, a type of high-tech audiovisual equipment that paramedics wear as part of their training gear. The MedicCam consists of a camcorder attached to a vest, with the camera’s eye mounted on the sides of specially designed training goggles. This technology permits educators to observe training drills through the eyes of the student.

The UPMC Health Van is funded by a $125,000 grant from the Pittsburgh Emergency Medicine Foundation. Laerdal Corporation also has made a significant contribution to the UPMC Health Van by donating $75,000 worth of training equipment.

Technical Specifications

• 72 feet long with tractor attached and access ramp down (11 or 12 parking spaces to allow room to maneuver the vehicle into position, must be on suitable ground)
• 10 feet and 6 inches in height
• Trailer measurements are 42.5 feet with access ramp up, and 50 feet with access ramp down
• Two, 80 square foot patient exam rooms
• One small entrance/registration room
• On-board oxygen
• On-board generator available when electricity is not available (additional fuel charge, 55 gallon tank at current price per gallon)
• Interior lighting
• Air conditioning and heating with on-board generator only
• Small refrigerator available for temporary storage
• Hot and cold running water
• VCR/computer with on-board flat screen computer monitors for audio visual presentations
• Wheelchair accessible

Request the UPMC SMART Unit

• SMART Unit Request Form (pdf file)

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