UM-Flint Adds New Clinical Simulation Center to Prepare Health Professionals

A Clinical Simulation Center (CSC) is designed to emulate real-world hospital scenarios in a safe and controllable manner.

Currently, nursing students use a 1,200 sq. ft. CSC located at Hurley Medical Center that was built about 50 years ago. The new 2,900 sq. ft. CSC will be used to teach obstetric, pediatric, medical-surgical, psych/mental health, critical care, community, and nurse practitioner skills. Students in both undergraduate and graduate nursing programs will have learning experiences in the simulation lab, and will develop team building and leadership skills while working side-by-side with students in other UM-Flint health professions programs such as physical therapy, and radiation therapy. Additional inter-professional team members will also be incorporated, including physicians, social work, nutritionists, and pharmacists.

Simulations will range from case studies based on electronic health records to full-scale nursing, physical therapy, medical, and emergency procedures complete with sounds, textures, sights, smells, and life-like human patient simulators. The CSC is designed to closely simulate an actual clinical environment. For example, the acute care room has emergency and medication carts, an IV infusion pump, defibrillator, and related equipment. The examination rooms have standard diagnostic equipment typically used in ambulatory and hospital settings. There are birthing, pediatric, and other clinical specialty areas with technology that is sufficiently realistic to be a surrogate for an actual patient care environment.

The simulation lab will be used to develop students' critical thinking, problem solving, technical skills, and self-confidence prior to interacting with live patients. Faculty will be able to evaluate students' knowledge, skill acquisition, safety, and readiness to perform selected procedures on a live patient.

A ribbon cutting ceremony for the new CSC is being planned for Oct. 1.