Operating room and emergency room simulations are observed by simulation technicians from the control room .
Training Tomorrow ’ s Health Care Providers
DALE WITTE CHRIS GOSSES
CAMC ’ s Center for Learning and Research
The Charleston Area Medical Center ( CAMC ) Institute for Academic Medicine ’ s goal is to ensure its physicians , nurses , pharmacists and other clinical caregivers are prepared to care for the people in the community today and for decades to come . To support that goal , CAMC just opened its new Center for Learning and Research .
This nearly 60,000-square-foot center has been designed to support the training of all types of health care professionals , serving as a learning environment for residents and students from affiliated universities around the state and beyond . It provides space for live , virtual and multi-site programs , supporting learners from nearly any location .
The highlight of the center is a state-of-the-art simulation facility , providing learners an environment to practice skills and use new equipment , helping them safely transfer skills and knowledge to patient care . Think of a surgeon and surgical team practicing in a virtual environment that even includes a patient ’ s specific condition and anatomy if needed .
“ This is the preeminent center for training health care providers in our region ,” says Sharon Hall , president of the CAMC Institute for Academic Medicine . “ The center will promote a team learning environment , serving thousands of learners , staff and students annually from many disciplines . Our research teams will continue to promote innovation and evidence-based learning to serve our patients .”
The new Center for Learning and Research includes a 3D digital table with an anatomy and virtual dissection platform . This virtual reality table is the most technologically advanced 3D anatomy visualization system in use for anatomy education .
Medical students use VR software for medical , inpatient training .
The 12 simulation rooms — including inpatient and outpatient — more than double the capacity of the prior simulation center . Additional larger simulation rooms represent an operating room , an emergency room bay area and a labor and delivery suite . These new facilities will continuously advance the care CAMC provides to the community .
There are also procedural rooms where specialized equipment will be used for training in endoscopy ultrasound , laparoscopy and other common procedures .
The center features new high-fidelity mannequins that mimic human body functions , have different skin tones and represent patients of all ages — from newborn to geriatric .
“ This center is a physical representation of CAMC ’ s longstanding and continuing commitment to health sciences education ,” says Doug Knutson , M . D ., chief academic officer for the CAMC Institute for Academic Medicine . “ It ’ s one of the most advanced medical training facilities I ’ ve seen .”
The CAMC Foundation raised $ 6.2 million of the $ 21 million total cost of the center .
For more than 50 years , CAMC has been committed to a mission of education , training thousands of physicians , nurse anesthetists , nurses , psychologists and other health science professionals . On any given day , there are nearly 1,000 student learners in CAMC ’ s facilities in Charleston , WV .
In fact , teaching and training medical students and physician residents was one of the main reasons for the 1972 merger of Memorial Hospital and General Hospital to create CAMC .
CAMC ’ s medical education programs help attract , grow and retain health care providers in West Virginia . The CAMC Institute for Academic Medicine manages 24 residency and fellowship training programs with more than 225 training positions . Each year , many residents and fellows graduate from CAMC programs with a large number remaining in West Virginia to practice or continue training .
All of these pieces together provide a better learning experience and educational environment and have a significant impact on the level of care CAMC provides to the community , as well as the skill and expertise of the providers who go on to practice in West Virginia . •
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