By: Erica Jones-Foster, PhD, Director of Educational Technology and Innovation
Several months after the onset of the COVID-219 pandemic, ECPI University introduced the eHospital, a proprietary software program designed to give healthcare students the opportunity to practice their skills in a virtual environment. Through this simulation, they have been practicing basic clinical abilities such as, measuring height, weight, respiration, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and pulse. They also administer EKGs, determine dosage calculations, set up operating rooms, and much more.
While the eHospital was already in the planning stages, the pandemic necessitated the acceleration of its development. Since our students would be among those that would play an instrumental role helping to fight the deleterious effects of COVID-19, there was no time to lose. A team of interdisciplinary program subject matter experts, in combination with our Educational Technologies Development Team, seamlessly devoted their talents to bringing the eHospital to life as quickly as possible.
One of our biggest challenges was limiting interruptions in clinical experiences. That’s why we have now added virtual simulation mannequins to the eHospital’s suite of tools. ECPI University was among the first to use medical mannequins at its on-campus labs many years ago. They replicate a wide range of behaviors and symptoms such as breathing, bleeding, sweating, heart failure, convulsions, and asthma attacks. Now, we’ve introduced those same type of mannequins into eHospital’s virtual environment.
Students who use the eHospital and participate in the Remote Simulation experience an increased understanding of basic clinical skills and a marked improvement in engagement. What’s more, the eHospital with Remote Simulation stimulates student-to-student and student-to-faculty interactions that enhance the learning environment. Indeed, as students return to campus, Remote Simulation will remain part of their clinical experiences.
With the direction of University Simulation Coordinator Tara Maynard, MSN, RN, CHSE, our team has created 20 scenarios for the PN program and 43 for the ADN program. The scenarios are delivered through a platform called ‘Remote Simulation’ which provides students with real-word clinical scenarios that walk them through treating patients with predetermined aliments. The scenarios come to life for the students through videos and interactive skills such as emptying a JP drain, administering an enema, taking blood pressure, glucose levels, respiratory rates, and more.
ECPI University’s eHospital was created as a learning community for students to enhance their clinical education. Students who use the eHospital and participate in the Remote Simulation experience an increased understanding of basic clinical skills and a marked improvement in engagement. What’s more, the eHospital with Remote Simulation stimulates student-to-student and student-to-faculty interactions that enhance the learning environment. Indeed, as students return to campus, Remote Simulation will remain part of their clinical experiences. This provides yet another reason why ECPI University produces the most qualified and knowledgeable healthcare leaders in the community.
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