Simulation Center Partnership:A University and Community Hospital Collaboration for Healthcare Education

Abstract

This article introduces a rural university and community hospital collaboration.Lock Haven University Nursing Department located in rural Pennsylvania, devised a solution that is not only beneficial to the university, but to students and a local clinical facility. The development of a hospital-based simulation center partnership designed to create a dynamic comprehensive high-fidelity simulation with practical applications for pre-licensure nursing students and community health care workers.The collaboration will allow students to learn in an environment that is set in a retired Intensive Care Unit. Unique to the LHU Nursing and Penn Highlands collaboration, is utilizing a simulation that applies real patient information coupled with supportive case scenarios. The Simulation Center provides a positive learning experience in which students refine their patient management skills and collaborate with multidisciplinary team members.

Addressing Health Inequities through Simulation Training and Education in Rural and Tribal Communities

“…These challenges, primarily distance and lack of reliable internet connectivity, are ongoing and inherent characteristics of working in remote areas. Forming strong partnerships with community health care facilities is one way to make an educational impact in a community where resources in funding, infrastructure (limited broadband internet connectivity) and health care personnel are limited [14]. Having a network of clinical partners provides a support system for communication, team building and interprofessional development for students to see how teams can collaboratively work together to overcome challenges.…”