Centers
Clinical Simulation Center
Explore the Center
The mission of the Clinical Simulation Center is to improve patient outcomes with effective programs that promote and enhance practitioner skills, clinical competence, teamwork and interdisciplinary collaboration. To advance the field of healthcare simulation, the Center conducts innovative research into simulation theory, practice, and technology.
Details and Accreditations
Research Excellence
The Clinical Simulation Center maintains an active research program in simulation-based education, with more than 150 peer-reviewed publications and more than a dozen book-chapters. The center is involved in student- and resident-led research programs using simulation.
Top-of-the-Line Facilities
The Clinical Simulation Center has more than 9,500 square feet of dedicated simulation space with state-of-the-art simulators including computer-controlled manikins, task trainers, virtual reality flat screen simulators, and clinical equipment.
Society for Simulation in Healthcare
The Simulation Center was one of the first institutions to be accredited by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare. The Sim Center is approved in the areas of Assessment, Teaching/Education, and System Integration. Accreditation in the final area, Research, is being pursued. Only a few institutions in the world are certified in all four areas.
American College of Surgeons
The center is fully accredited by the American College of Surgeons as a Level 1 Comprehensive Education Institute. This 5-year accreditation is the highest level possible and has been held by the Center since 2007.
American Society of Anesthesiologists
The center is accredited by the American Society of Anesthesiologists as an Endorsed Simulation Program. This certification recognizes the high quality of anesthesia simulation programs and the dedication of resources needed to maintain and expand the programs. The center is authorized to offer continuing medical education credits to ASA members.
Community Outreach
Community Art Displays
Visits to the Simulation Center are enhanced by artwork from local artist groups. Paintings, drawings and collages are displayed in the lobby and patient rooms, providing a welcoming feel and giving local artists a venue for their work to be viewed by hundreds of trainees. Artwork has been provided by area schools, Penn State Health and College of Medicine faculty and staff, and local professional artists. The display pieces are selected by a committee and are displayed in the center for three months.
High School Programs
The Simulation Center supports curricula in several local secondary schools. Advanced science students and other specialty groups interested in a healthcare field have sessions incorporating relevant medical or physiological content. Students experience actual medical situations that incorporate concepts such as understanding the basis for pathophysiologies, creating differential diagnoses and delivering treatments. Practical skills such as CPR can be introduced. They are also exposed to real medical equipment, procedures and medical terminology.
Standardized Patient Program
SPs may be laypeople or professional actors. They may also be patients with known abnormalities where cases can be "built" around those abnormalities (e.g. known heart murmurs, etc.).
Using a professional trainer and faculty help, such individuals are coached to "mimic" cases, including "acting out" certain physical findings. They are also taught to provide constructive feedback to the trainee/examinee on the encounter. Such individuals are reimbursed at an hourly rate for their services.
The program provides a very useful and flexible teaching and testing tool. It is particularly helpful for the student in transitioning from the classroom to the care of real patients. To faculty, on the other hand, it provides a tool to both teach and test students in a consistent and standardized manner.
It can be used to provide a "controlled" exposure to situations that are difficult, sensitive or uncomfortable such as giving bad news, dealing with hostile or difficult patients or sexual/domestic abuse etc. Also, new trainees may get an opportunity to work with emergency conditions without the immediate concern for patient safety. Further, trainees get the opportunity to get direct feedback from the SP regarding their communication skills.
With inpatient hospital stays substantially reduced, it is particularly difficult to locate appropriate patients for training students. The selected use of SPs overcomes this problem.
Medical students
PA students
Residents in training
Physicians (faculty development, testing skills, etc.)
Nurses and nursing students
Other allied health professionals (pharmacy, physical therapy students, etc.)