After two years of preparation and a rigorous application process, Lethbridge Polytechnic's Simulation Hub in the Centre for Health and Wellness is now internationally accredited by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH) – making it one of four post-secondary institutions in Canada to achieve such accreditation.
"Accreditation is an incredible achievement for our team at Lethbridge Polytechnic," says Marie Laenen, instructor, Simulation Hub. "Lethbridge Polytechnic is fast becoming one of our nation's most attractive healthcare professional training centres for learners, potential partners and collaborators, focusing on career readiness and improved patient outcomes."
Lethbridge Polytechnic's Simulation Hub is a high-tech clinical laboratory that simulates various healthcare treatment spaces beyond hospital care, ranging from emergency care to less intensive treatment, such as massage therapy. It provides learners with safe, hands-on and immersive situations featuring manikins or convincing actors that prepare them for complex and high-stress healthcare environments. Simulation hubs supplement clinical training for healthcare professionals and provide learning opportunities that may not be available to students due to elevated risks and complexities of care. Combining clinical rotations and simulation spaces gives students quality and authentic placements while ensuring mandated training requirements.
Established in 2004 by professionals using simulation for education, testing and research in health care, SSH serves a global community of practice seeking to improve performance and reduce errors in patient care by using simulations in healthcare training. To date, SSH has accredited 180 teaching/education simulation facilities globally.
"This accreditation reflects our commitment to exceptional student experiences and deliberate, collaborative relationships," says Dr. Brad Donaldson, president and CEO of Lethbridge Polytechnic. "It's very telling to hear an external organization such as SSH see us for what we are known for – an institution that is all in on preparing students with career-ready skills they need to succeed in their future career."
Additionally, SSH praised several aspects of the Simulation Hub in their application approval letter, citing "[an] engaged organizational leadership with clear understanding of the support and financial resources needed to sustain a simulation program," as well as strongly engaged mentorship of simulationists and the fostering of an environment of continuous feedback and improvement. SSH also noted the "expansive" and "supportive" community, featuring students, children and lived-experience volunteers who help enhance simulations by providing authentic and diverse situations for students.
"Accreditation embodies our unwavering commitment to exceptional student experiences in health care education," says Deanna Gonnelly, associate dean, Health and Wellness. "I am incredibly proud of the Simulation Hub team for their dedication and hard work over the past two years. This achievement not only enhances the reputation of our institution in Canada but reinforces our mission to equip students with the skills necessary to impact patient outcomes positively."
While the Simulation Hub aligns with international nursing standards, accreditation is not limited to nurse training. The Simulation Hub provides training space for those in other polytechnic Centre for Health and Wellness programs such as Massage Therapy, Bachelor of Nursing, Primary Care Paramedic, Practical Nurse, Health Care Aide and Therapeutic Recreation – Gerontology.
If you strive to help others, have a caring heart and feel compassionate about your community, learn how you can make a difference in the lives of others by visiting lethpolytech.ca/health to explore career-ready programs in healthcare.
Lethbridge Polytechnic has been a leader in education and innovation since becoming Canada's first publicly funded community college in 1957. Each year, we welcome thousands of students in more than 65 certificate, diploma, degree and apprenticeship programs ranging from health care, business, public safety, human services, environmental and agricultural sciences, trades, design and technology.
Our students benefit from experienced instructors, small class sizes, flexible learning possibilities and programs that are career-ready, hands-on and industry-responsive. With clear pathways to other institutions, work-integrated learning opportunities with community partners and cutting-edge applied research, our students gain the skills and experience they need to move into the careers they love. At Lethbridge Polytechnic, we are a place where people come together to learn and grow, no matter where they are on their educational journey.