As reported by St. Lawrence College:
With half of St. Lawrence College students in health and health-related programs, the need for expanded state-of-the-art clinical learning space is critical. The College’s lab space was recently rebuilt and modernized in order to meet the increased need for highly advanced technical training for students in programs such as degree and practical nursing, Medical Laboratory Science/Assistant, and Pre-Health Science.
The grand opening of the new Clinical Simulation Lab will take place on January 11 from 10:00 am to 11:00 am at the Kingston campus.
“We need to ensure that tomorrow’s health care workers have the training they will need to meet the health care needs of a changing society. The experiential learning that the new clinical learning space and equipment will provide to students will help them learn how they can provide effective care to patients. I am pleased that St Lawrence College will lead the way with this innovative approach to learning and to health care alike,” said Mark Gerretsen, MP for Kingston and the Islands.
“I am pleased to see the results of this collaborative investment. This simulation lab and modern learning space—in addition to the training from faculty and hands-on experience—will ensure that our healthcare workers of tomorrow are highly-skilled and well prepared for employment,” said Sophie Kiwala, MPP for Kingston and the Islands.
St. Lawrence College is a recognized leader in training health care providers. These innovative new laboratories give our nursing and health science students the opportunity for hands-on learning in a real world setting, according to Glenn Vollebregt, President and CEO of St. Lawrence College.
“We appreciate the support of the governments of Canada and Ontario in providing funds to kick-start this vital training lab,” Vollebregt said. “These new classrooms are one way that we will prepare our students for complex challenges in our local hospitals, clinics, and other health care settings.”
The new, fully accessible Clinical Simulation Labs include:
- Five new adult simulation patient rooms and two infant stations.
- Two new high-fidelity mannequins.
- Expanded observation space.
- Two new debrief rooms equipped with Smart Boards.
- Two new medical grade medication carts and computers.
- Six new computer stations.
- Cloud/Bluetooth links to student mobile devices.
- Four new electric hospital beds.
- New patient hoist to simulate hospital and health care settings.
St. Lawrence College will also be working with other community health care agencies to provide training in the new simulation labs.
Funding for the new Clinical Simulation Labs is provided, in part, by the federal and provincial governments through the Strategic Infrastructure Fund and through the generous support of donors to the College’s Uncommon Campaign. Partial funding for new equipment was provided by the Government of Canada through the EasternOntario Community Futures Development Corporation Network.
These labs mark completion of the first part of the Hello Future capital expansion project. The expansion includes a new, state-of-the-art Student Life and Innovation Centre and other new student facilities. Combined, the governments of Canada and Ontario will contribute $11.5 million toward the project, which will help St. Lawrence College meet the innovation, entrepreneurial, environmental and wellness needs of students.
Construction on the new Hello Future Project began in October 2016, and will be completed in the spring of 2018. This project will create more than 540 jobs, while renewing, modernizing and greening the Kingston campus.