Building confidence before the bedside

Tracheostomy care is one of the most high-stakes areas a speech-language pathologist can step into, and one of the most underrepresented in clinical training. 

Simucase is closing that gap with "Connie," a new advanced-level simulation developed in partnership with Atos Medical. 

Connie is a 62-year-old patient with a history of tracheal stenosis, recently admitted for a tracheotomy. 

Learners take on the role of the SLP assigned to complete a speaking valve consultation and swallowing evaluation following placement of her tracheostomy tube and work through voice and swallowing assessment in a realistic hospital setting.

“Throughout my career as a speech-language pathologist, I’ve supervised many graduate students during their practicums and externships,” said Carmin Bartow, MS, CCC-SLP, senior clinical educator for tracheostomy at Atos Medical. 

“I’ve seen firsthand how limited education and training in tracheostomy care can lead not only to gaps in knowledge and clinical skills, but also to significant fear and hesitation.”

The Connie simulation is designed to meet that challenge head-on. Learners work through a realistic case, review a medical report, collaborate with other healthcare providers, and observe a patient with a tracheostomy as an SLP assesses and places a speaking valve.

“They’re able to make clinical decisions, see the outcomes of those decisions, and even make mistakes in a safe environment where they can correct them and learn from the experience,” Bartow said. 

“That kind of hands-on learning is incredibly valuable, not only for students, but also for a wide range of healthcare providers. It helps build the knowledge, clinical reasoning, and confidence they’ll need when they encounter patients with tracheostomies in real clinical settings.”

A partnership built for reach and authenticity

For Simucase, the collaboration with Atos Medical pairs deep clinical expertise with a platform already woven into SLP education nationwide.

“Our goal with the ‘Connie’ simulation is to bridge the gap between classroom theory and the high-stakes environment of acute care,” said Erica Ligon, MEd, CCC-SLP, CHSE, manager of content strategy & development at Simucase. 

“By partnering with Atos Medical, we’ve ensured that the clinical nuances of tracheostomy, from speaking valve candidacy to swallowing safety, are captured with the highest level of authenticity.”

That reach was central to why the partnership made sense for Atos Medical.

“Simucase was the ideal partner because of its strong presence in SLP education,” Bartow said. 

“The platform is used in approximately 95% of SLP graduate programs in the U.S., and it has also begun expanding simulations for practicing healthcare professionals. Knowing that this Atos Medical tracheostomy simulation could reach such a large number of students, and eventually even more clinicians as the program continues to grow, was incredibly exciting for us.”

Tracheostomy care, Bartow noted, is a critical area of practice that remains underrepresented in many training programs. 

“Through this partnership, we’re able to expose the next generation of SLPs to what comprehensive, high-quality tracheostomy care looks like.”

One of the simulation’s defining features is how clearly it frames tracheostomy management as a team effort. A dedicated collaborator section highlights the roles of other professionals, including an ENT physician, nurse, and respiratory therapist, reinforcing that the SLP is part of a larger interdisciplinary team working together to support the patient.

“There is also a strong emphasis on patient-centered care, which is essential in tracheostomy management and, really, across all areas of our field,” Bartow said. “The simulation encourages learners to think critically about patient goals, safety, communication needs, and overall quality of life when making clinical decisions.”

That preparation, she added, carries directly into practice: “Experiences like this help clinicians enter practice with a stronger understanding of both the clinical and collaborative aspects of care. Ultimately, that level of preparation can lead to greater confidence among clinicians and improved outcomes for patients with tracheostomies.”

It’s the confidence piece that Ligon sees as the simulation’s biggest payoff.

“We know that many SLP students and even seasoned clinicians feel a high level of anxiety when walking into a room with a patient who has a fresh tracheostomy,” Ligon said. “This simulation provides a safe, repeatable space to build that clinical confidence before they ever step foot in the hospital.”

What the 'Connie' simulation offers:

• Realistic acute-care scenario: A hospital-based case built around speaking valve consultation and swallowing evaluation following tracheostomy placement.

• Decision-making with consequences: Learners make clinical choices, see the outcomes, and can safely make and correct mistakes.

• Interdisciplinary perspective: A collaborator section featuring ENT, nursing, and respiratory therapy roles models real team-based care.

• Patient-centered focus: Prompts that push learners to weigh patient goals, safety, communication needs, and quality of life.

• Built for confidence: A safe, repeatable environment to develop skills before the first bedside encounter.

Simucase partners with clinical leaders like Atos Medical to bring specialized expertise to the next generation of clinicians. To explore a simulation partnership, reach us at [email protected].