Rural SimCenter

Our Team:

Rural SimCenter Director:  Elisabeth Voelker, MBA, CHSE  (bottom lt.)

Simulation Education Coordinator: Gema Knipe, MSN, CHSE  (bottom Rt.)

Simulation Operation Specialist: Matthew Ross, CHSOS  (top Lt.)

Simulation Technologist: Tessa van der Meijden  (middle and Top Rt.)

Simulation Technologist:  April Williams (not pictured)

 

What is Simulation?

Simulation is a technique not a technology for interactive, immersive activities that amplify, replace, or recreate actual experiences in the healthcare environment. 

 

Simulation Training originated in the flight industry after experts discovered that the majority of disasters had the root causation of poor communication and lack of knowledge regarding emergency protocols.

 

Simulation education became a focus within the medical community after reports in the late ’90s cited lack of teamwork, errors in judgment, lack of critical knowledge, and poor recall as major contributors to medical errors leading to catastrophic clinical outcomes.

 

Medical Simulation Training is now endorsed by IOM, Joint Commission, AAP, ACOG, and AABC.  Studies show a reduction in adverse outcomes after initiation of simulation training in all fields where they are utilized.

 

Emergencies require rapid mobilization and immediate response.   Regular simulation practice ensures that healthcare professionals have the clinical skills, situational knowledge, and communication techniques in place to provide excellent care for patients.

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Our Operating Model:

Users of the Rural SimCenter include our three partners:  The School of Nursing at California State University, Chico, Enloe Hospital and Oroville Hospital, and approximately 2-4 outside groups scheduling classes per year.  Classes taught at the Rural SimCenter are scheduled by clinical expert instructors who have undergone special training to become simulation educators.  Once trained as simulation educators, instructors are eligible to schedule education sessions through the calendar reservation portal on our website.

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Our staff operate all technology and facilitate use of the Rural SimCenter using best practice simulation methods for optimal learning outcomes.  This includes keeping the class size to10 students.  Small class sizes offer each learner the hands-on training and soft-skill experience needed to gain confidence and mastery of their practice for maximum patient safety.​