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Director's Corner
In health care, recognition often comes as a quiet nod rather than a spotlight. But when our hard work is acknowledged, it reaffirms the value of what we do. SimLEARN’s recent national recognition and our successful joint efforts with the Department of Defense (DoD) remind us that great achievements are born from teamwork and collaboration.
In July, CNBC featured the National SimVET Center (NSC) in Orlando, FL, highlighting its role in advancing Veteran care. For those unfamiliar, the NSC is the Veterans Health Administration’s (VHA) state-of-the-art simulation center, designed to allow health care professionals to practice medical procedures, test new technologies, and refine protocols—all without any risk to Veterans. The principle is simple yet powerful: nothing reaches Veterans unless it’s been thoroughly tested and validated for safety and effectiveness.
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The Iowa City VA Medical Center Dental Clinic piloted a virtual clinical simulation program, led by Dr. Mary Sturgeon, to enhance the skills of dental hygienists. The training, which includes hands-on scenarios and collaboration with other VA sites, has resulted in improved patient care and professional growth for participants.
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The Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center implemented a simulation-based training program to improve staff skills in femoral sheath removal, a high-risk procedure often needed in post-cardiac catheterization. This comprehensive training has significantly boosted staff competence and patient safety.
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 A multi-site simulation training program was developed by VA facilities to enhance medication safety in patient care. This program focused on safe insulin administration and included participants from various departments. The training showed significant improvements in staff confidence and reporting practices.
Learn how this simulation training improves medication safety in VA medical centers.
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Bonnie Barti, a Simulation Technician at the Southern Nevada VA Medical Center, shares her journey in obtaining certification in Healthcare Modeling and Simulation from the Naval Postgraduate School. This program offers in-depth courses on simulation training, research methods, technology in health care education, and management of simulation development.
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The Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center Interprofessional Simulation Center in Milwaukee is committed to reducing waste by reusing and repurposing outdated supplies and unused items. By implementing a review process for expired supplies and creatively repurposing them for simulations, the center is making strides in environmental sustainability.
The Southern Nevada VA Medical Center hosted VR Day, bringing together medical professionals, military personnel, first responders, and academic institutions to explore the latest advancements in virtual reality and artificial intelligence for health care simulation. This event showcased how cutting-edge technology can transform medical training and improve patient care outcomes.
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The Veterans Administration Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (VA-ECHO), in partnership with SimLEARN, offers four comprehensive programs: SimLEARN Community of Practice (CoP), Resuscitation Education and Innovation (REdI) 2 Rescue, SimVET Analysis, and SimVET Integrations. These programs enhance health care training through monthly sessions, addressing various topics from code blue practices to ECG interpretation.
Go to SimLEARN’s website to learn more about VA-ECHO programs and access session resources and schedules.
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