MADISON, Wis. –The state’s busiest birthing center now has a brand new simulation and training center for newborn care.
This fall, UnityPoint Health – Meriter opened the Neonatal Education Simulation and Training Center, or NEST, to educate and train medical professionals in newborn care. The center is operated by the Pregnancy and Newborn Care services, a collaborative effort between UW Health and Meriter, along with UW Health Kids neonatologists.
The center is located on the fifth floor of Meriter Hospital, near the neonatal intensive care unit. Construction started in March to convert parts of a former gymnasium into the NEST.
In October, the Pregnancy and Newborn Care Outreach Education Department at Meriter started a comprehensive schedule of classes, including various neonatal and obstetric courses for medical professionals.
The NEST provides a permanent space for learners, including nurses, respiratory therapists, nurse practitioners, students, residents, fellows and experienced doctors, to practice real-life scenarios, such as a baby with respiratory distress.
Learners will have the opportunity to discuss their performance after simulation education, according to Dr. Ryan McAdams, neonatologist, UW Health Kids.
By practicing correctly, the team is prepared for real situations, and while neonatal skills are essential, communication is vital for success in real time, he said.
“What we do is high risk, with little room for error, because lives are on the line,” said McAdams, who is also a professor of pediatrics, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. “We should study performance more in medicine, and there are not enough pediatric-focused simulation centers.”
McAdams likens it to professional football teams analyzing game film – not just focusing on the quarterback, but reviewing the entire play.
“We look for the patterns behind performance,” McAdams said. “By analyzing individual technique and team dynamics with advanced analytics, we support independent and team learning and turn those insights into better care.”
The NEST also utilizes technology to connect with experts nationwide through simulation headsets. UW Health Kids neonatologists provide hands-on advanced neonatal training for residents, fellows, and faculty in the new virtual reality lab.
Before the NEST opened, education, training and simulation classes for newborn care were held at multiple locations across the Meriter and UW Health campuses. Having a dedicated home with advanced equipment is beneficial for the thousands of learners in the program, according to Kate Kroes, nurse and neonatal outreach educator, Meriter.
In 2024, nearly 1,400 learners attended pregnancy and newborn care classes, and more than 50 nurses from regional hospitals attended training at Meriter, she said.
“If everyone is better trained, our tiny patients will do better. Everyone receives the best treatment possible when we share resources across the region,” she said. “Having a dedicated home will help support both patients and healthcare providers across our community.”
The project cost $750,000 and was funded by the UnityPoint Health – Meriter Capital Council, the UnityPoint Health – Meriter Foundation, and Pregnancy Newborn Care Services.
The Pregnancy and Newborn Care services support all pregnancy, birth, newborn, and neonatal quality, safety, education, and patient experience initiatives across the system of care.
In 2024, more than 5,000 babies were born at Meriter.
