Pensacola Junior College’s nationally recognized patient simulation center has been designated as a Center of Educational Excellence by Laerdal Medical Corp.
The Mary Ekdahl Smart Center for Patient Simulation Training & Research at the Warrington campus received the honor during the Laerdal Centers of Excellence Program held in Miami in December.
PJC becomes only the second community college in North America to receive this distinction.
Laerdal Medical Corp. is the largest manufacturer of high-fidelity patient simulators in the world. The three-year award was based on a formal review by a board of senior Laerdal managers and independent advisors and a site visit.
“We are honored to receive this designation,” says Warrington campus Provost Marcia Williams. “It provides us the opportunity to collaborate with many of the national leaders in medical and healthcare simulation. It will help us develop our vision of service to our students and the healthcare community in our area.”
PJC’s 12,000-square foot Center has a threefold mission of supporting the nursing and allied health programs at the college, collaborating with healthcare providers in the region to provide professional continuing education and to conduct research on simulation to improve patient care.
Currently the Center teaches patient simulation sessions to more than 200 students each week. Planning has begun in collaboration with the Gordon Center at the University of Miami to develop a model paramedic curriculum that fully integrates patient simulation. Efforts will continue to develop partnerships with area healthcare providers.
For more information, contact Williams at 484-2230, mwilliams@pjc.edu; or Keith Samuels at 484-2231, ksamuels@pjc.edu.