Interprofessional Education

FAUSC-INTERACT Simulation Training Program Part I - Completed

_{- For LPN's and CNA's - Adult Living Facilities and Senior Nursing Facilities}

• In 2014, Palm Healthcare Foundation awarded a 12-month grant to Florida Atlantic University Simulation Center (FAUSC) to pilot simulation training program for licensed caregivers utilizing the INTERACT Tools.
• FAUSC Community Training Project was a project to help create educational materials and clinical simulation-based training programs for Certified Nurse Assistants (CNAs) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) who are working in nursing home facilities located in Palm Beach County to assist in the training for the early identification and communication of changes in patient care.

FAUSC-INTERACT Simulation Training Program Part II - Completed
_{- For Family Caregivers and Home Health Aides}

• In 2015, Palm Healthcare Foundation awarded a 12-month grant to Florida Atlantic University Simulation Center (FAUSC) to pilot simulation training program for family caregivers and home health aides working with the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) at MorseLife located in Palm Beach County. The FAUSC-INTERACT for Palm Beach PACE utilized the INTERACT Tools for non-licensed caregivers
• The initial objective was to collaborate with Palm Beach PACE providing education and training for family caregivers and home health aides with the right knowledge to recognize changes in conditions by observable signs and symptoms; appropriately intervene and report to PACE healthcare providers using INTERACT Non-Licensed Tools.
• The findings: Pretest indicated 58% of HHAs/CNAs correctly identified “it is not normal for most people to complain of pressure, swelling, or bloating in their ankles, feet, stomach, or legs.” After the training, the posttest increased to 96%. The improvement was a direct result of the Simulation Case Scenario of a Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) patient using INTERACT Tools emphasis on the importance of observable signs and symptoms.

Inter-Professional Collaborative Simulation Training Program – Open

• In 2016, Palm Healthcare Foundation and Quantum Foundation awarded a 12-month grant to Florida Atlantic University Simulation Center (FAUSC) to pilot a simulation-based training program for healthcare professional students in Palm Beach County. This is a collaborative project with FAU College of Medicine, and advanced nursing school students. Medical and nursing students will have an opportunity to practice working together in inter-professional case scenarios developing their communication and team-based skills.
• In 2017, Palm Healthcare Foundation awarded another 2-year Grant to continue the IPE training with the College of Medicine and additional Colleges of Nursing.
• Effective communication skills are essential to exchange clear and accurate information among inter-professional in order to ensure patient safety. The goal of the project is to evaluate the effectiveness of utilizing simulation methodology to improve Inter-professional Communication skills. Medical and nursing students will interact and practice how to communicate with inter-professional team members to place the interests of patients at the center, focusing on the importance of sharing information, coordination and collaborate patient care as members of an inter-professional team.

Community-Based Family Caregiver Training Program – Open

• In 2016, Florida Atlantic University Simulation Center received an additional grant from Palm Healthcare Foundation for education and training strategies regarding Activities of Daily Living (ADL). Simulation evaluation of the needs for family caregiver training with an emphasis on ADL offers an opportunity to engage, practice, and receive suggestions for improvement on how caregivers respond to realistic situations, improve their decision-making skills, and possibly help reduce errors.

Generous Gifts

We extend have deep gratitude to our donors and benefactors.

Our deepest gratitude to the “Folsom Family” for their generous donation allowing Florida Atlantic University Simulation Center to dedicate a simulation room equipped with the latest “Athena” a high fidelity female mannequin. This addition allows FAUSC to improve education within the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine and our community.

A special thanks to Palm Healthcare Foundation for their continued and generous support to the Florida Atlantic University Clinical Skills Simulation Centers. Specific thanks for their continued support for the Simulation Center located in the Mollie Wilmot Pavilion, St. Mary’s Medical Center Campus in West Palm Beach. In addition, we gratefully acknowledge their repeated Grants for advanced simulation training programs to improve patient care.

We would like to thank the Quantum Foundation, because their initial donation began the concept of our simulation activities. Their additional support for simulation based HCOP programs has also had a profound impact on the lives of middle and high school students at the simulation centers. The Quantum Foundation provided an additional generous Gift to support the building of the newly expanded CSSC. This award enabled the College to continue to provide expanded training services to our medical students and the community we serve. Their gift enabled the CSSC to add enhanced technology to the CSSC.

We are grateful for all gifts and grants that support the CSSC.