Children’s Hospital Announces Plans to Build Innovative Pediatric Simulation Center, Advancing Training and Education

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Kristen Robinson
March 20, 2019
(504) 896-9373 kristen.robinson@lcmchealth.org

The first Simulation Center in Louisiana dedicated to pediatrics will foster a realistic learning environment for pediatric healthcare providers and learners.

NEW ORLEANS, LA - Children’s Hospital New Orleans announced plans this week to build a new, state-of-the-art Pediatric Simulation Center, the first of its kind in Louisiana. The center will provide hands-on-learning to residents, medical students, health professionals and families through use of advanced pediatric robots that simulate real-life patient scenarios.

The center will provide a realistic and safe learning environment in which pediatric healthcare providers will gain the expertise needed to provide safe, high quality patient care. The center also offers families a place to learn how to care for children with complex medical needs such as a new tracheostomy or new home ventilator.

“As the leader in pediatric academic healthcare for the state of Louisiana, education of the next generation of pediatric healthcare professionals remains at the heart of our mission,” says John R. Nickens IV, President and Chief Executive Officer at Children’s Hospital. “The creation of the new simulation center allows our students and providers to improve communication, refine critical thinking skills and enhance clinical training.”

The pediatric simulation center will include four total simulation rooms, including two patient rooms, one OR room, and one ICU room, all facilitated by a separate control area where educators can replicate real life scenarios for learners. The enhancements also include new wireless Gaumard manikins, ideal for educational training in mock codes, flight care scenarios, and other complex medical cases.

“The simulator manikins vary by age and size, giving our learners hands-on experience in pediatric medicine ranging from newborns through adolescence,” says Richelle Monier, MD, Pediatric Intensivist and Medical Director for the Pediatric Simulation Center at Children’s Hospital. “This innovative training provides our students and providers with an interprofessional training environment that improves patient safety and outcomes.”

The Pediatric Simulation Center at Children’s Hospital is made possible through funds raised from the hospital’s 2019 Sugarplum Ball in support of educational innovation.