Students, educators, scientists, clinical partners, and public health officials gathered on September 29th at the University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies' (UM SONHS) new Simulation Hospital. As part of the formal launch of this transformative facility, the assembled speakers and guests participated in an inaugural symposium, titled "A Response to the Call for Radical Transformation." The half-day event at the just completed 5-story, 41,000 square foot state-of-the art structure featured an array of speakers from academia, healthcare organizations and federal agencies.
According to UM SONHS Dean Cindy Munro, who moderated the first session on "Innovating for a Better Disaster Response," bringing together experts from different disciplines to explore the use of simulation and technology in addressing disaster preparedness is a key component of the Simulation Hospital's mission. "One major purpose of designing a facility with the impressive structural capacity of the Simulation Hospital is to break down silos between disciplines and provide a place where, working together, we enhance our collective ability to respond to disasters in our community and beyond," said Munro. The featured speakers on this topic were Jeff Bryant, Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Emergency Operations Division, and Eileen Smith, a prominent expert in the creation of technology-enhanced, simulation-based teaching products from the University of Central Florida.
The second session of the kickoff symposium, "Innovating for a Better Patient Care Experience," addressed the challenges inherent in educating and preparing individuals on both sides of the patent care encounter: the health care providers, and the patients and their families. An exciting feature of the simulation hospital is its fully furnished, realistic apartment setting, where home-care simulations will teach not just healthcare workers but also family members to care for loved ones with terminal illnesses or debilitating injuries. Addressing the audience in the lineup of presenters were Dr. Pamela Jeffries, an internationally known health care researcher and educator and dean of George Washington University School of Nursing, as well as Caroline Cortezia, a Certified Child Life Specialist from Nicklaus Children's Hospital.
Both sessions engaged listeners and speakers in interactive discussions regarding potential roles the revolutionary Simulation Hospital could play in innovating for improvement of both disaster response and patient care protocols. After the sessions, interested audience members participated in tours of the new and cutting-edge facility.
Inaugurated on September 28th, the Simulation Hospital signals a transformation in the education of healthcare professionals and disaster preparedness in South Florida, with potential for national and global impact. Designed to replicate the true flow of activities in a real-world healthcare system, it will serve as a high-capacity community resource where healthcare students, professionals, first responders and corporate partners will convene to learn, design, test and master practices and technologies to improve both disaster preparedness and the patient care experience.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Rosa M. Lamazares-Romero | UM School of Nursing and Health Studies, Communications
rmlromero@miami.edu | 305.284.6255
