Last week, Grand Valley State University’s Interprofessional Simulation Center showcased new healthcare technology and interactive simulations at the Pew Campus’ Cook-DeVos Center during “Simulation Week.” Each day, the center hosted a different set of events, including lab demos, virtual reality simulations and multimedia presentations. The Interprofessional Simulation Center at GVSU, dedicated to practicing healthcare skills and patient safety, is one of the largest in the country, with over 67,828 square feet.
“We have the state of the art simulation center, and we want to bring this to the students’ forefront, providing energy and excitement for what’s to come as they move through their (students’) academic journeys at GVSU,” said Executive Director of Simulation Sherri Fannon.
On Sept. 16 and 18, students had the opportunity to explore lab equipment through different lab demos, including new technology like the Sam 4G (Student Auscultation Manikin), the improved Ventrilo scope (modified stethoscope) and the Butterfly iQ3 (used for ultrasounds).
There were also tours of the Sim Center, where students and attendees could meet faculty and staff.
“Students from all healthcare disciplines from the Kirkhof College of Nursing, College of Health Professions, College of Education and Community Innovation and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences have the unique opportunity to expand their assessment, critical thinking and therapeutic communication skills by practicing patient care in this state of the art simulation facility,” described the Interprofessional Simulation Center’s website.
On Sept. 17, there was an XR Playground demonstration that allowed students to enter the world of digital reality. By utilizing virtual reality (VR) headsets, students were able to immerse themselves in lifelike digital healthcare scenarios.
VR has been used to train medical students in real-world scenarios, foster empathy for patients and simulate various medical procedures. A 2018 study by the National Library of Medicine even found that students who had been trained using VR were more accurate in their medical practices than those who had gone through VR training.
According to Ty Rizer, a simulation emerging technology developer at GVSU, utilizing VR in healthcare education also allows students to be transported “to hard-to-reach settings like airplane cabins, courtrooms or active operating rooms.” 
Rizer emphasized that the psychological safety of students is a big reason simulation learning is important.
“It is stressful and scary to work in emotional, intense situations in the real workplace,” Rizer said. “Rehearsing within a controlled environment can help students to feel prepared. VR offers this same benefit in some situations, allowing us to provide our students a low stakes environment where they can experiment with different approaches to a scenario, at whatever pace works for them.”
On Sept. 18. the center showcased childbirth simulation using high-fidelity manikins. Manikins are human-sized dolls used by health students and professors to simulate medical procedures and real-world patient scenarios. In addition to the maternal and fetal simulator, there were also pediatric simulators, which help students learn how to care for young patients of varying ages. According to the Interprofessional Simulation Center’s Instagram, actors were hired to play patients to further simulate healthcare exchanges.
Fannon said the resources and technology available to help healthcare students gain a better understanding of their craft is an investment in their futures upon graduation.
“The crossroads between technology and healthcare are that they always overlap in someway in order for providers (and) professionals to serve and care for their patients,” Fannon said. “Nowadays, technology is a vital piece to (the) continuity of care and increased, positive patient outcomes. The use of technology within the classroom is an essential piece of training our students for their professional practice.”
