STCC program receives accreditation from Society for Simulation in Healthcare

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH) awarded Springfield Technical Community College’s SIMS Medical Center with full accreditation in teaching and education, a prestigious recognition that underscores the program's commitment to excellence in healthcare education and training.

SSH accreditation, the “gold standard” in health care simulation, serves as a benchmark for excellence in patient simulation. Accredited programs are committed to providing superior patient outcomes.

The SIMS Medical Center, located on the STCC campus in Building 20, was developed to provide a state-of-the-art, immersive educational environment where students and health care personnel obtain new skills and refine existing skills.

Uniquely positioned as the only technical community college in Massachusetts, STCC offers a variety of health care programs and courses. Some of the programs – sonography, dental hygiene, dental assisting, surgical technology, medical laboratory technician and physical therapist assistant – cannot be found elsewhere in the region.

Patient simulations allow students to experience a variety of health care scenarios as they pursue their course of study. Students in the college’s signature health science program also have the opportunity to experience simulations in a variety of fields in their first semester as they explore career opportunities. The program recently added new simulators representing patients with different cultural backgrounds to expand diversity in the lab.

Christopher Scott, the Dean of the School of Health and Patient Simulation (SHPS) at STCC, said the accreditation is “a testament to the dedication and excellence of our faculty, staff and students.”

It’s the first time the program has earned full accreditation. The SIMS Medical Center will be accredited until December 2029. The SSH team visited the facility for an onsite review before granting accreditation.

Scott applauded the work and leadership of staff and faculty who helped to secure the recognition. They included Renae Gorman, Department Chair and Professor in the Physical Therapist Assistant program, Lisa Fugiel, Assistant Dean of the School of SHPS and Director of Nursing, and Daniel O’Neill, Simulation Coordinator.

Accreditation from the SSH reflects our commitment to providing top-tier education and training to the future healthcare professionals who will serve our community with skill and compassion. Christopher Scott, Dean, School of Health and Patient Simulation

“It’s an honor to be recognized for our outstanding patient simulation program,” Scott said. “Accreditation from the SSH reflects our commitment to providing top-tier education and training to the future healthcare professionals who will serve our community with skill and compassion.”

Added Dr. Christopher Thuot, Vice President of Academic Affairs at STCC: “Earning full accreditation from the Society for Simulation in Healthcare is a significant accomplishment, and we are one of only a few community colleges nationwide that have earned this distinction.  It validates the quality of education we provide as an institution with a technical focus and reaffirms our commitment to training the next generation of healthcare professionals using the most advanced simulation techniques available.”

Highlighting strengths of the SIMS Medical Center, the SSH stated the dedicated staff draw from their background in education, technology and innovation to provide quality simulation experiences.

Students and others utilizing the SIMS Medical Center “raved about their simulation experiences and asked for more,” according to SSH’s summary report developed by the accreditation review time.

The SIMS Medical Center includes a number of care units with patient simulators that allow students, faculty and providers to conduct medical procedures in real settings. The simulators are life-size, computer-controlled teaching tools that mimic human anatomy and physiology and provide a hands-on, immersive and realistic learning experience. Staff, who are located in an unseen control room, provide a voice for the simulator to interact with students.

The center also features an Innovations Lab with 3D design and printing, virtual reality technology and video experiences.

Prospective students can apply now for the fall semester, which starts Sept. 3. Massachusetts residents who have yet to earn a bachelor’s degree can enroll at STCC this fall for free thanks to a new state initiative known as MassEducate. Residents 25 and older without an associate or bachelor’s degree can enroll in MassReconnect, which offers free community college.

Interested in applying to STCC? Visit stcc.edu/apply or call Admissions at (413) 755-3333.

About Springfield Technical Community College

STCC, the Commonwealth's only technical community college, continues the pioneering legacy of the Springfield Armory with comprehensive and technical education in manufacturing, STEM, healthcare, business, social services, and the liberal arts. STCC's highly regarded workforce, certificate, degree, and transfer programs are the most affordable in Springfield and provide unequaled opportunity for the vitality of Western Massachusetts. Founded in 1967, the college – a designated Hispanic Serving Institution – seeks to close achievement gaps among students who traditionally face societal barriers. STCC supports students as they transform their lives through intellectual, cultural, and economic engagement while becoming thoughtful, committed and socially responsible graduates

MEDIA CONTACT:

Jim Danko, (413) 755-4812, jdanko@stcc.edu

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