New, high-tech clinical simulation center at Regions Hospital will improve care experiences and health outcomes

The $5 million project will enhance training experiences for health care professionals across Minnesota and western Wisconsin

St. Paul, Minn. — Practice makes perfect, but how do you practice brain surgery or caring for a victim of a car accident?

The newly opened HealthPartners Institute Clinical Simulation Center at Regions Hospital will allow care teams to do exactly that – train for all manner of medical scenarios using innovative tools like virtual reality headsets, three-dimensional printing, and high-fidelity mannequins that mimic real-life.

The new simulation space is about 7,000 square feet. It’s located on the first floor of the hospital and frees-up previously used simulation space for clinical care in the future.

“These investments in clinical simulation help us deliver industry-leading continuing education opportunities that translate to better care for our patients, members and communities,” said Megan Remark, president of Regions Hospital. “Not only will this new space help hone our care teams’ capabilities, it will also serve other health professionals in our community and elevate the care they provide.”

This new center at Regions Hospital is part of HealthPartners Institute's Clinical Simulation Program, which trains more than 8,000 health care workers each year. While many of these health care workers are part of HealthPartners, trainees also include local medical and nursing students, emergency medicine and fire department personnel, and even local high school students who are exploring health careers.

Research shows that simulation is associated with improved response times during emergency scenarios that require chest compressions and defibrillators, and it’s associated with better clinical performance outcomes.

Many of the simulations will leverage the center’s virtual reality headset, 3-D printing and other technologies. But, training modules also mirror real-life interactions that are common in health care, such as delivering difficult news to family members or navigating racial biases.

“We’ve created a really innovative and sophisticated learning lab, but our modules also emphasize the soft skills that are critical in delivering quality health care,” said Ryan Aga, director of simulation at HealthPartners Institute. “Communication, body language, conflict resolution, all of these remain foundational to the high-tech educational experiences that we’ll provide in this space.”

The new clinical simulation center has been made possible in part by donors to Regions Hospital Foundation, including the Otto Bremer Trust, the Fred C. and Katherine B. Andersen Foundation, and the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, which all contributed significantly to this project.