SIM-IA Brings Cutting-Edge Clinical Education to Mason City Healthcare Professionals

MASON CITY, Iowa — Local emergency responders and healthcare professionals will have a unique opportunity to sharpen their skills with advanced, hands-on training as the Simulation in Motion–Iowa (SIM-IA) mobile education truck visits Mason City in April.

In partnership with the Mason City Fire Department, the SIM-IA truck will be in the community April 1–2 and again on April 24, providing clinical education for EMTs, paramedics, and EMS students.

SIM-IA is a statewide program that delivers high-quality, evidence-based training to EMS providers, hospital teams, businesses, and community members across Iowa. The program’s semi-sized mobile simulation truck is designed to replicate real-world emergency settings, including both an ambulance and an emergency room bay. It also features video recording for debriefing and six advanced patient simulators capable of mimicking realistic human responses.

During the Mason City visit, SIM-IA will debut a new training scenario developed specifically for the region. The scenario focuses on injuries related to the growing popularity of mountain biking in the area.

SIM-IA educators worked alongside local cycling experts to identify common injury patterns and create training materials that better prepare emergency crews for incidents involving injured cyclists. The initiative builds on SIM-IA’s ongoing efforts to support cycling safety across Iowa, including providing no-cost training along the annual RAGBRAI route.

“Every agency in Iowa has unique training needs. SIM-IA offers tailored scenarios to ensure providers receive training that is meaningful and relevant to the populations they serve,” said Brett Bachtle, marketing coordinator for Simulation in Motion–Iowa.

Mason City Fire Department leaders say the program provides valuable, real-world experience for their crews.

“SIM-IA provides realistic, training-based scenarios that staff work through, reinforcing current knowledge while building new concepts and keeping up with current trends,” said Randy Elsbernd, assistant deputy chief of training.

In addition to the mountain biking scenario, participants will also train in infant cardiac arrest interventions using the truck’s state-of-the-art simulation equipment.

Training sessions for EMS providers will begin at 9 a.m. each day and last approximately four hours. An additional session for EMS students is scheduled for 2 p.m. on April 1 and will run about one hour. All training will take place at 350 5th St. SW in Mason City.

The mobile unit itself serves as a full-scale training environment, complete with a simulated emergency room, ambulance setting, and a control room where instructors adjust patient responses in real time. The lifelike mannequins respond dynamically to treatment, requiring participants to assess and act as they would in actual emergencies.

Media representatives are invited to tour the simulation truck, observe live training sessions, and interview SIM-IA educators and local participants. Photo and video opportunities will be available throughout the training.