HOPE for Georgia moms tackles leading cause of maternal mortality at second maternal cardiac roundtable
On October 10, 2025, HOPE for Georgia Moms convened its second Maternal Cardiac Roundtable bringing together over 60 medical professionals and advocates to combat cardiac conditions—the leading cause of maternal mortality in Georgia. The event brought together residency and program directors from obstetrics, emergency medicine, family medicine, and cardiology—alongside fellows, doulas, and individuals with lived experience—all united in their commitment to advancing universal cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk assessment for pregnant and postpartum women.
Attendees witnessed a compelling maternal cardiac simulation video by the Center for Simulation and Innovation that illustrated the critical consequences of CVD misdiagnosis, followed by moving testimonials from two patients enrolled in the CVD program at NGHS. Tasha Murchison, CSI SIM Educator, led a moment of silence and reflection, sharing her personal journey with cardiac conditions during pregnancy. The event also celebrated a significant achievement: the Center for Simulation and Innovation’s victory in the Georgia Perinatal Quality Collaborative’s (GaPQC) social media contest with an educational reel designed to raise awareness and equip patients with vital resources to advocate for their cardiovascular health during and after pregnancy.
Strengthening emergency response in Lumpkin county
In October 2025, the Northeast Georgia Health System’s Mobile Simulation Lab brought cutting-edge emergency medical training directly to Lumpkin County, partnering with local emergency services personnel for an intensive day of high-fidelity scenario-based education. EMS teams engaged in three critically important simulations—an obstetric emergency featuring eclamptic seizures, a premature neonatal resuscitation and a complex multi-system trauma case—all designed to mirror the high-stakes challenges responders face in the field. Using advanced manikins capable of realistic physiological responses including seizure activity and trauma cues, participants practiced rapid assessment, airway management, hemorrhage control and coordinated care transitions while receiving expert guidance and detailed debriefings from specialists across NGHS trauma and acute care services, the neonatal intensive care unit, and labor and delivery.
This collaborative training initiative addresses a critical need for rural EMS teams, where high-acuity emergencies like eclampsia, premature birth and severe trauma demand split-second decision-making and advanced clinical skills. By delivering this sophisticated, hands-on training directly to Lumpkin county (rather than requiring travel to a distant facility), NGHS ensures that local emergency responders have immediate access to the expertise, practice and confidence needed to provide exceptional patient care when every second counts. The program exemplifies how innovative mobile education can bridge the gap between classroom knowledge and real-world application, ultimately strengthening the entire continuum of emergency care for the communities NGHS serves.
Critical emergency simulations strengthen perioperative readiness
Over the past three months, Leah Everett, GME simulation educator, and Jackie Payne, simulation credentialing AHA educator, partnered with surgical services educators to deliver comprehensive emergency response training during annual competencies for surgical services staff. The training focused on two critical perioperative emergencies rarely encountered but requiring immediate, precise intervention. Through hands-on simulation scenarios, staff practiced recognizing and managing local anesthetic systemic toxicity (LAST)—identifying neurological and cardiovascular symptoms, administering lipid emulsion therapy, and following modified ACLS protocols—and malignant hyperthermia (MH), including early detection of muscle rigidity and elevated CO₂, discontinuation of triggering agents, and rapid dantrolene administration with coordinated team response.
The training culminated in code blue simulations using ACLS guidelines, where participants applied their skills with emergency medications and equipment in realistic scenarios. Each session concluded with structured debriefing, reinforcing key learning points, strengthening communication strategies and building staff confidence in managing high-stakes emergencies.
Tasha Murchison nominated for SSH educator of the year award
Tasha Murchison, MSN-Ed, RNC-OB, C-EFM, clinical simulation educator has been nominated for the prestigious Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH) Educator of the Year award. The nomination recognizes her exceptional leadership and transformative impact in simulation-based healthcare education, particularly her pioneering work addressing Georgia’s critical maternal healthcare crisis. With over 22 years of maternal-child health expertise, Murchison has revolutionized obstetric emergency training through innovative methods including gamification strategies and virtual escape rooms, while spearheading the development of a comprehensive Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO) program that directly responds to Georgia’s alarming maternal mortality rates.
The nomination emphasizes Murchison’s unwavering commitment to addressing healthcare disparities through mobile simulation initiatives and free OB emergency training workshops that specifically target maternity care deserts across the state. Since launching these workshops in 2024, she has trained 51 healthcare providers from Georgia and neighboring states, removing financial barriers for resource-limited facilities. Through strategic partnerships with organizations including HOPE for Georgia Moms and the Georgia Perinatal Quality Collaborative, Murchison has extended her impact far beyond traditional institutional boundaries, contributing to the first annual Maternal Cardiac Roundtable and developing train-the-trainer models that ensure sustainable, long-term improvement in maternal healthcare outcomes throughout the southeast region.
Case management simulation workshop equips trainers with advancing debriefing skills
Healthcare professionals from across NGHS recently gathered for an innovative case management simulation workshop designed to train the trainer on debriefing and providing real-time feedback during difficult conversations. This collaborative initiative brought together expertise from CSI, organizational development team members Paul Nelson and Kim Fox, and case management leaders Tracy Wyrick and Christi Howerton. Through realistic scenarios involving long-term care placement discussions, trainer participants learned to facilitate effective debriefing using structured techniques, apply the “facts vs. stories” framework to help learners separate objective information from assumptions, use assessment tools to provide meaningful feedback on communication skills and demonstrate super user validation techniques. The workshop established a strong foundation of psychological safety, emphasizing that this was a learning environment where mistakes are expected and valuable. With designated roles including lead participants conducting family conversations and observers providing constructive feedback, this train-the-trainer approach ensures NGHS will have skilled facilitators who can continue to develop case management staff in navigating sensitive conversations with confidence, empathy, and professionalism.
Respiratory therapy team elevates pediatric care skills through immersive simulation training
Respiratory therapy staff at NGHS recently completed their annual skills training in partnership with CSI, focusing on enhancing pediatric critical care competencies through experiential learning. This year’s comprehensive session featured a realistic pediatric case scenario that challenged clinicians to apply advanced clinical reasoning in a controlled, hands-on environment. Team members rotated through multiple skill stations to review and practice essential equipment operations, while also engaging in procedural training using specialized task trainers to master arterial line placement with ultrasound guidance. The innovative hybrid format, which seamlessly blends traditional classroom instruction with cutting-edge simulation-based practice, continues to prove highly effective in reinforcing technical skills and building clinician confidence when managing high-acuity pediatric patients, ultimately strengthening the quality and safety of respiratory care delivery across the health system.
Surgical residents advance GI anastomosis skills in hands-on training session
The PGY-2 and PGY-3 General Surgery residents recently participated in an advanced skills session focused on gastrointestinal (GI) anastomosis, a critical surgical technique used to reconnect sections of the bowel after resection. The procedure requires precision, a strong understanding of anatomy, and refined tissue-handling skills to ensure a watertight and functional connection.
Under the guidance of faculty member Dr. Adeelfatah and PGY-5 Chief Resident Dr. Whitson, residents practiced both hand-sewn suturing and stapling methods, with an emphasis on proper alignment, tension control and maintaining tissue integrity.
This marked the second session in the training series, providing residents with the opportunity to build on skills introduced earlier with simulated bowel models. This time, they advanced to working with beef intestine, which offers a more realistic representation of human tissue. The natural lining, fat and pliability of the material allowed residents to experience authentic handling challenges similar to those encountered in the operating room, reinforcing both technical proficiency and surgical confidence.
The progressive nature of this skills series demonstrates NGHS’s commitment to providing residents with comprehensive, hands-on training that bridges the gap between simulation and real-world surgical practice. By mastering these fundamental techniques in a controlled learning environment, our residents are better prepared to deliver excellent patient care in the operating room.
Learn more about the Center for Simulation and Innovation at NGMC.