Simulation is defined as the imitation or representation of one act or system by another. Health care simulations can be said to have four main purposes: education, assessment, research, and health system integration to facilitate patient safety.
The Rural Health Innovation Collaborative (RHIC) is a hidden, yet well-known gem on the Union Hospital Terre Haute campus. Founded in 2009, its mission is to advance the health and wellness of the public through the innovative, interprofessional education and training of current and future health care professionals.
The RHIC Simulation Center holds a unique position as the first accredited simulation program in the state of Indiana in 2015. They are accredited in both teaching/education and systems integration.
“Simulation-based education provides a more realistic and authentic means of learning and retaining knowledge than more traditional methods,” Jack Jaeger, Executive Director of Rural Health Innovation Collaborative, said. “We are extremely fortunate in Terre Haute to have one of the most outstanding simulation programs in the country. And a lot of the credit for that goes to the executive leaders from our nine partners and their outstanding support of what we are doing. We provide simulation-based training to a more diverse group of health care professionals in all areas of health and human services than any other program, certainly in our region and perhaps nationally. And I've been to hundreds of other simulation centers.”
Since 2011, the RHIC Simulation Center has served over 127,000 learners from 63 disciplines and sub-disciplines in almost every part of the health care team, as well as those in other professions.
Health care simulation creates a safe, controlled environment where employees can practice needed skills and gain confidence without the fear of harming a patient or delaying diagnosis and treatment to patients.
“As an educator, simulation-based training allows me to provide our students and employees an opportunity to ‘practice how we fight’. It’s the same principle as running drills or even practicing sports,” Megan Whittaker, Clinical Educator, Imaging Services, said. “Your brain needs hands-on experience to build both skill and confidence for real scenarios where the speed and accuracy of our response can mean life or death. It also allows the learner to practice in an environment that holds less pressure, ultimately gaining confidence. Simulations allow me to evaluate the skills of my team, identify opportunities for improvement with current protocols and solidify previous education.”
“Simulation is not only used for training but also as a means of measuring and evaluating system-wide processes to improve patient safety and quality,” Jaeger said. “It can be a testing ground to see if the procedures and structures you have implemented actually work as you thought they would.”
The RHIC Simulation Center is proud to serve the following collaborating partners: Union Health, Hamilton Center, Indiana State University, Ivy Tech Community College, Indiana University School of Medicine, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, Valley Professionals Community Health Centers, VNA/Hospice of the Wabash Valley and the West Central Indiana Area Health Education Center (AHEC).
The RHIC continuously works with a variety of agencies across the state to provide simulation-based education, including the Indiana State Department of Health, the Indiana Hospital Association, the 181st Air National Guard, local and state law enforcement, the Indiana State Trauma Commission and area middle and high school students interested in health careers.
“Through our work with the Indiana State Department of Health, the RHIC has provided training to 45 rural and critical access hospitals across the state, significantly improving quality and patient safety efforts,” Jaeger said. “Our efforts have focused on a variety of pressing problems facing Indiana, including sepsis, neonatal and obstetrical emergencies, stroke, fall prevention, COPD readmissions and trauma care.”
The RHIC Simulation Center has a national reputation for its exceptional delivery of simulation-based education that impacts the care of patients across the spectrum of care.
The RHIC Simulation Center staff are considered experts in their field, including Certified Health Care Simulation Educators Laura Livingston, Kailee Burdick and Jack Jaeger, along with Certified Health Care Simulation Operations Specialist James Harrah.
Jaeger is also the current Chair of Accreditation for the Society for Simulation in Healthcare and has created partnerships with international simulation societies across the globe, including those in Mexico, Thailand and Europe, implementing a new Commission for International Simulation Accreditation.