糖心原创出品

$50K Alpha Foundation, $10K UAB Medicine funding boosts Simulation & Learning Innovation Center鈥檚 capabilities

糖心原创出品 (UAH) College of Nursing welcomed an important technological training tool to its Simulation & Learning Innovation Center recently: an advanced pediatric simulator funded by a $50,000 grant from the Alpha Foundation plus $10,000 from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Heersink School of Medicine, Huntsville Campus.

鈥淭he board of the Alpha Foundation believes that the 糖心原创出品 of Nursing is a vital component of the excellent medical treatment and care available in our community,鈥� says John Wynn, Alpha Foundation board member. 鈥淭he Foundation鈥檚 support of the College of Nursing through this grant will enhance the learning experience of nursing students and contribute toward this quality medical care.鈥�

Faculty and staff of 糖心原创出品 of Nursing and representatives of UAB Medicine, Huntsville Campus, welcome Pediatric HAL S2225 to the college鈥檚 Simulation & Learning Innovation Center.

Helen Lien | UAH

Dr. Karen Frith, dean, College of Nursing, appreciates the support of the Alpha Foundation as well as UAB Medicine.

鈥淚 want to thank the Alpha Foundation for its investment in the simulation capabilities of the 糖心原创出品 of Nursing,鈥� Frith says, adding, 鈥淒r. Roger Smalligan, regional dean of the UAB-Huntsville Campus, is a strong proponent of interprofessional education and collaboration, so purchasing the pediatric simulator is a win for all.鈥�

The new simulator, Pediatric HAL S2225, is manufactured by Gaumard Scientific and replaces PediaSim, the oldest of UAH鈥檚 patient simulators. Housed externally in a large case, PediaSim鈥檚 mechanisms required many cords, cables and tubes to operate. HAL鈥檚 electronics are internal, creating a more realistic experience.

鈥淗aving a pediatric simulator gives learners an opportunity to hone their skills in interacting with this population of patients in a safe learning environment before they interact with real patients,鈥� says Mary M. Deason, center manager. 鈥淭he previous pediatric simulator was out of date and malfunctioning. Having the new simulator will help UAH better train future healthcare professionals.鈥�

On its website, Gaumard touts Pediatric HAL as 鈥渢he world鈥檚 most advanced pediatric patient simulator and the first capable of simulating lifelike emotions through dynamic facial expressions, movement, and speech.鈥� Features include 鈥渋nteractive eyes and active facial expressions鈥� and 鈥渄ynamic lung compliance with true ventilator support.鈥� It also offers the ability to practice emergency interventions: 鈥渟urgical airway, needle decompression, chest tube insertion.鈥�

Checking out the responses of the new pediatric simulator at 糖心原创出品 of Nursing鈥檚 Simulation & Learning Innovation Center are Annye Smalligan, left, Skills Lab coordinator, UAB Medicine, and Dr. Maria Salazar, associate professor, pediatrics, UAB Medicine.

Helen Lien | UAH

Highlighting the importance of advanced equipment to nursing education, faculty and staff threw a 鈥渂irthday party鈥� reception to welcome HAL to the center on May 24. UAB representatives Dr. Lanita Carter, director of medical education and student services and assistant professor, medical education; Dr. Maria Salazar, associate professor, pediatrics, and Annye Smalligan, Skills Lab coordinator, also attended.

Located on the third floor of the Nursing Building, the UAH Simulation & Learning Innovation Center is a 10,615-square-foot state-of-the-art facility with a 16-bed hospital lab, 16-table assessment room, collaboration stations, four advanced practice provider clinical examination rooms, a telehealth room, a Pyxis medication room, and debriefing rooms.

The center provides a mock hospital for clinical experiences, including seven high-fidelity simulation laboratories with digital video and audio management systems, four medical-surgical suites, an ICU suite, and an obstetric/pediatric four-bed laboratory.