Fortunately, a high-quality simulation training lab can help by offering learners much-needed exposure to rarely-encountered, high-stakes situations (within a risk-free training environment). These encounters may be reproduced at any time, giving novices and seasoned professionals opportunities for repetitive learning experiences in how to handle even the most extreme of healthcare events.

The 13,000-square foot sim lab features advanced simulation rooms—including a trauma bay, an operating room, and two patient rooms. Along with responsive patient simulators, there are computer rooms, a skills lab, and debrief rooms that are capable of reproducing just about any potential situation that might occur in an actual hospital. Previously, there had been only one room for teaching. Now, there are four.

This is a huge expansion for us,” said center manager Misty Flinchum. “There isn’t anything we can’t simulate." 

Discover the Carilion Clinic Sim Lab

Advancing Clinical Competency with CAE's Expansive Resources 

Carilion currently has a number of CAE Healthcare training solutions to help provide learners with the skills they need to provide safer, high-quality care, including

• CAE Juno clinical skills manikin for mastering basic to advanced nursing competencies

• CAE Lucina childbirth simulator for the practice of routine to rare birthing scenarios and emergency care

• CAE HPS (Human Patient Simulator) for medically-responsive, anesthesia-focused patient simulation training

• CAE EndoVR for simulated practice in endoscopy procedures and assessment

Simulation is critical in training medical students and residents, noted Daniel Harrington, M.D., vice dean of the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. 

"Students and residents learned how to do procedures such as starting IVs or placing central lines by doing on them on patients," he said. "Now, they learn through simulation. We’re learning more and more how to take care of patients in ways that are better and safer than before. Many great advances are coming for our patients.”