Pleural effusion in neonates can lead to serious complications, including compression of the lungs and heart. In critical cases, thoracentesis—a procedure involving the insertion of a small needle into the chest to drain excess fluid—is required. Mastery of this procedure is a core competency for pediatric and neonatal clinicians working in intensive care settings. To improve training beyond the traditional “see one, do one, teach one” approach, NICU clinicians at Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women and Babies, in collaboration with the Orlando Health Strategic Innovations team, are developing a high-fidelity neonatal thoracentesis task trainer. Key features include: A reusable, pressurizable chest model with anatomically accurate structure. Integration into a full-body form with extremities and head to simulate realistic procedural workflow. Designed to deliver authentic haptic feedback, enhancing skill acquisition and procedural confidence. Currently in the final stages of development, this trainer will be used in an IRB-sanctioned trial at Orlando Health to assess clinician proficiency before and after training with the device.
