Elon’s School of Health Sciences Interprofessional Simulation Center received full accreditation from the Society for Simulation in Healthcare on May 17, 2024. The IPSC team was accredited in the area of Teaching/Education.
Nita Skillman is the director of the Interprofessional Simulation Center (IPSC), which includes Simulation Coordinator Bethany Fearnow and Simulation Specialist Angel Hernandez. Both the director and simulation coordinator are Certified Healthcare Educators as granted by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare.
The dynamic team of simulationists worked hard to develop programmatic policies and procedures aligned with the Society for Simulation in Healthcare Best Practices. These best practices ensure quality, safety and exude teaching and learning excellence. The center serves primarily these educational disciplines, including physician assistant, physical therapy, and nursing.
On April 15, the IPSC team welcomed the Society for Simulation in Healthcare site visitors for a day of site evaluation. The visit comprised reviewing documentation and in-depth interviews with Elon School of Health Sciences leadership, faculty and students. During the day, the site visitors previewed the Interprofessional Simulation Center’s daily operations, assessed competencies, standards and ongoing improvement of educational activities. The day concluded with the Society for Simulation in Healthcare site visitors highlighting the strong sense of commitment to the psychological safety of the learners and standardized patients during simulation activities. They also highlighted the evidence of strong support from Society for Simulation in Healthcare leadership.
The Interprofessional Simulation Center houses five buckets of simulation modalities. The five modalities include standardized patients, task trainers, medical mannequins, clients-to-class, and the exploration of mixed reality. Each modality is selected based on the learning objectives, the level of fidelity needed to reach clinical realism, and the ability to bring the textbook to life.
On May 17, the IPSC team received verification from the Society for Simulation in Healthcare that they had been awarded full accreditation in the area of Teaching/Education by demonstrating regular, recurring simulation educational activities with clearly stated objectives and by providing evidence of ongoing improvement of education activities. The accreditation also included meeting the SSH Core Standards and criteria of seven sections, including Mission & Governance, Program Management, Resource Management, Human Resources, Program Improvement, Ethics, and Expanding the Field.
This makes the IPSC the ninth simulation center in North Carolina to receive full accreditation. Receiving full accreditation from the Society for Simulation in Healthcare signifies the IPSC’s commitment to excellence in simulation education and elevates the center to national recognition. The spotlight increases visibility among simulation centers, attracting learners, faculty/staff, and funding opportunities.