September 27, 2018By HealthySimulation.com Writing Team

Jacob and Lois Mol Cardiovascular Simulation Center Offers Unique Training Space

The Jacob and Lois Mol Cardiovascular Simulation Center opened its doors in August 2017 which serves as a clinical training environment and educational hub for current and future physician leaders and staff. By utilizing innovative simulation in this unique space with applied experiential learning and hands-on technology, clinicians can master key competencies and skills without risk to patients, leading to improved patient safety and outcomes. Today, Nadine M. Ferris AA, Simulation Operations Coordinator at Spectrum Health for the Sim Center, writes in to share how you too can utilize the space for advanced simulated trainings!

Located in Grand Rapids Michigan, the Jacob and Lois Mol Cardiovascular Simulation Center’s purpose is to simulate realistic procedures for structural heart, heart catheter and vascular surgical interventions. One of the most important features of the 2,700 square foot Center is a 600 square foot room, specially designed and equipped to simulate an actual Operating Room environment. This room houses a full body simulator, surgical lights, and imaging equipment to allow physicians and medical teams to practice complex procedures and multi-disciplinary patient care transitions. As medical innovation continues to advance, the standard way of teaching current providers, residents, and fellows must evolve.

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Michigan Live recently reported:

Dr. Robert Cuff, vascular surgeon and director of the new center, said he can take a CAT scan of a patient and make a 3-D model of it. He can then practice with the model before working on the actual patient. With this method Cuff can see complications that could potentially arise with no risk to the patient. This method can’t be done with every health issue, but Cuff stated it has also been used to help treat aneurysms. Cuff explained he hopes the center will increase medical cooperation in the area and hopes to build collaborations with medical education programs.

Other amenities of the center include classrooms with a video system that allows surgeries to be broadcast to observers in the room. This is beneficial for exposing large numbers of nursing personnel to surgery, Cuff said. A class of 20-50 people can see what’s going on in the operating room when before only one or two people could be in an operating room, and even then it would be hard to see what was going on, he added.

Cuff said the Jacob and Lois Mol Cardiovascular Simulation Center is one of the few centers to focus on cardiovascular simulation. As such, officials are hoping to attract top students looking to study in the field. “If they train here, there’s a good chance they’ll stay here,” he said. If this occurs the quality of the cardiovascular care in the region will rise and West Michigan will not be hit as hard by the cardiovascular specialist shortage in the future, Cuff shared.
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The Simulation Center is critical to the future treatment of heart conditions at Spectrum Health’s Fred and Lena Meijer Heart Center. Having this center has already allowed for physicians and medical teams to practice complex procedures and surgeries, in addition to testing out new medical devices and equipment in an environment that poses zero risk to our patients.

The Jacob and Lois Mol Cardiovascular Simulation Center includes a large conference room that has been utilized for both education session and simulation stations. Additionally, we have a wet lab space reserved for the practice of smaller skills and wet tissue training and research.

And great news Simulation Champions! The Jacob and Lois Mol Cardiovascular Simulation Center is available to rent for your simulation courses! Please contact nadine.ferris@spectrumhealth.org for more information.