Podcast Summary: Simulation on Wheels: How Mobile Training Is Saving Lives in Rural Iowa

Advancing Health Podcast – January 12, 2026
Host: Tom Peterle, American Hospital Association
Guests:

• Dr. Jacinda Bunch, Assistant Professor, Iowa College of Nursing & Senior Advisor, Simulation in Motion (SIM) Iowa
• Tina Eden, CEO, Virginia Gay Hospital, Vinton, Iowa

Main Theme

This episode spotlights Simulation in Motion (SIM) Iowa, a unique mobile clinical education initiative delivering realistic, hands-on training to EMS providers and healthcare professionals across rural Iowa. The discussion explores how these on-site simulations are transforming preparedness, building confidence, and ultimately saving lives in medically underserved communities.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Program Origins & Mission

• SIM Iowa addresses the distinct challenges of rural healthcare training: high costs, limited access to advanced simulation, and resource constraints.
• The program’s fleet of three high-tech simulation trucks travels statewide, enabling medical teams to practice rare and complex scenarios within their local context.

“Access to simulation education is a challenge. It’s expensive, it requires special training to really do it well. And we all know that resources are somewhat limited in our rural areas.”
— Dr. Jacinda Bunch [01:38]

2. Realism & Scenario Design

• SIM Iowa customizes scenarios based on each community's needs—including medical and trauma cases relevant to local practice.
• Scenarios mirror real-life protocols, equipment, medications, and team dynamics.
• Advanced human-like mannequins simulate breathing, bleeding, heart rhythms, and even rare emergencies (e.g., preemies).

“They're not ‘crash test dummies.’ They're little robots ... We really can create almost any medical or trauma scenario. We try to make it as realistic as possible.”
— Dr. Jacinda Bunch [03:36]

3. Impact on Rural Teams

• Muscle memory and practical experience are crucial for confidence—simulations deliver concentrated exposure to rare situations.
• Enhances team cohesion, communication, and protocol familiarity.
• Particularly vital for infrequent but high-risk scenarios, such as pediatric emergencies or maternal complications.

“Some of the experiences they have with the simulation mannequins are those that it would take a year in their training to receive that same experience. And so it’s really invaluable.”
— Tina Eden [04:25]

4. Addressing Maternal Care Deserts

• 32 Iowa counties lack comprehensive maternal care.
• SIM Iowa brings maternal and pediatric simulation labs directly to critical access hospitals—training for everything from burns to neonatal crises.

“Our staff just don’t have the pediatric experience in a critical access ER. So it’s really important to have that in-lab experience to handle those situations.”
— Tina Eden [05:18]

5. Beyond Procedures: Protocol Drills & Team Readiness

• Training highlights gaps in emergency protocols: medication availability, equipment readiness, and familiarity with rarely used supplies.
• EMS teams practice with their own gear in real hospital settings, cultivating readiness for any situation.

“Do we really have this medication in stock? Does everyone know where it is? ... We may not see [some equipment] as often, so that has been a huge piece.”
— Dr. Jacinda Bunch [06:21]

6. Investment & Future Expansion (Funded by Wellmark Foundation)

• A $5M+ grant will guarantee at least two on-site simulation trainings yearly for rural and mixed rural/urban hospitals over five years.
• Special focus on maternal emergencies in care desert counties, in collaboration with the Iowa Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative.

“The Wellmark Foundation is paying for these trainings to occur over five years.”
— Dr. Jacinda Bunch [08:54]

7. Staff Engagement & Demand

• Teams are eager for the hands-on challenges simulations provide.
• Reduces new staff apprehension, bridges knowledge gaps, and prepares teams for high-stress emergencies.

“It’s very engaging for the staff ... a lot of the apprehension that new staff will have ... is they just haven’t seen something before.”
— Tina Eden [09:31]

8. Lessons for Other States

• Recommendations: Partner with experienced states/programs, seek philanthropic funding, and start by listening to local providers’ needs.
• Customization and grassroots engagement are keys to sustainability and success.

“We collaborated with [other states] and we learned from them. We learned the mistakes they made and also the things they did well.”
— Dr. Jacinda Bunch [10:08]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Realism and Transferable Skill
  “We can amputate an arm and have arterial bleeding that they need to control. We can change heart rhythms based on medications …”
  — Dr. Jacinda Bunch [03:48]

• On Invaluable Team Experience
  “It does provide a lot of confidence and just creates more of a teamwork environment.”
  — Tina Eden [04:35]

• On Protocol Drills
  “They may have read those protocols multiple times, but to really pull them out and go through the steps ...”
  — Dr. Jacinda Bunch [06:20]

• On Endorsement
  “If there are other facilities that haven’t used SIM Iowa, I would recommend it. It’s been very time valuable and well worth the cost of training your staff.”
  — Tina Eden [10:57]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:01 — Introduction to SIM Iowa and episode context
• 01:27 — Rationale and development of SIM Iowa (Dr. Bunch)
• 02:36 — Designing and customizing realistic scenarios
• 03:36 — Simulator features and creating lifelike emergencies
• 04:23 — Hospital CEO perspective: team benefits (Tina Eden)
• 05:13 — Maternal care deserts and pediatric simulations
• 06:14 — Discovering protocol and equipment gaps
• 07:20 — Advanced procedures: on-site airway and cricothyrotomy training
• 08:06 — Wellmark Foundation grant and expansion plans
• 09:27 — Staff enthusiasm and appetite for more simulation
• 10:04 — Advice for other states launching similar programs
• 10:56 — Closing endorsements and final thoughts

Summary

SIM Iowa exemplifies innovation in rural healthcare workforce training, using sophisticated mobile simulations to close the gap in education, preparedness, and outcomes. The program’s adaptability, investment in continuous learning, and focus on local needs make it a national model for improving rural emergency care.