Virtual Education and Simulation Training Center

Imagine a seven-room hospital, where doctors gain a firm foundation in surgical techniques, hand-to-eye coordination and repetitive skills exercises-before they pick up a scalpel to operate on a real patient.

But the patients are manikins, adult and pediatric high-fidelity human patient simulators that breathe, speak, blink their eyes and respond to stimuli. Controlled by computers to simulate various conditions, the manikins produce heartbeats, bowel sounds and blood pressure readings.

Doctors gain crucial experience dealing with high-risk conditions that rarely occur so they can provide the best care when those situations do arise. Audio and visual recordings enable learners to review and analyze their work.

The facility has received certification as a Level I Educational Institute by the American College of Surgery, a designation for providers of comprehensive education in enhancing patient safety through simulation.

The 9,000-square-foot center is equipped with a working laparoscopy station with simulated tissues, an endoscopy/bronchoscopy simulator, 3D visualization software and display, with more than 100 task trainers.