Bothwell staff train with pediatric specialists in midst of peak summer trauma season

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)—

Doctors and nurses at Bothwell Regional Health Center spent Wednesday preparing for pediatric emergencies through hands-on simulations led by specialists from Children’s Mercy and University of Missouri Health Care.

The eight-hour training focused on helping emergency department staff recognize and respond to pediatric trauma through realistic scenarios and procedures.

Emergency Department Director Mike Shipp said the timing is intentional because pediatric trauma cases typically increase during the summer months.

“In the summertime people are outside, they’re doing sports activities, recreational activities. And unfortunately, that’s when a lot of these traumas happen,” Shipp said. “Kids are involved in a lot of these activities. So that’s why this is an opportune time to have this training.”

Hospital emergency room visits have been trending upward since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Missouri saw a slight dip in visits per 1,000 population in 2024 after peaking in 2023.

Children’s Mercy partnered with MU Health Care to bring pediatric emergency specialists to Sedalia. Jill Nusbaum with Children’s Mercy said the training helps equip providers in rural communities that may not have immediate access to pediatric specialists.

“Rural communities frequently don’t have pediatric specialists,” Nusbaum said. “So being able to equip people out in rural communities with the knowledge and resources and the connections through collaborations like this, that they can get answers that they need in a timely fashion is really important.”

Throughout the day, providers worked through mock pediatric trauma cases using lifelike simulation mannequins, giving them an opportunity to practice procedures and communication before facing a real emergency.

Registered nurse Keirsten Lorenc said the realistic simulations helped build her confidence.

“I’m definitely more confident now that I know what the doctors are more looking for,” Lorenc said. “You can actually see it on a mannequin and know what to kind of practice on and what to do.”

Bothwell officials said they hope to continue offering similar training opportunities to help emergency providers stay prepared to care for children in critical situations.