PCOM offers simulation centers at each of its locations. Together, these centers provide educational services to programs including osteopathic medicine, physician assistant studies, biomedical sciences, physical therapy, pharmacy and psychology. PCOM also has a mobile simulation unit that allows students, other professionals and community members to learn about pre-hospital care.
PCOM's simulation center team is committed to advancing medical education through experiential learning and assessments. Our collaborative approach fosters the promotion of excellent clinical practice and ensures medical professionals are better educated. By increasing simulation center activities and enhancing community engagement, we aim to revolutionize healthcare education.
As part of our commitment to experiential learning, the Standardized Patient (SP) program partnered with the PCOM School of Pharmacy to deliver an innovative, gamified simulation for third-year pharmacy students in the Psychiatry course, training standardized patients to authentically portray antipsychotic medication side effects, including tardive dyskinesia, akathisia, dystonia and pseudo-Parkinsonism, while learners worked collaboratively to identify these effects in real time. This experiential approach reinforced didactic content and strengthened clinical observation, critical thinking and team communication skills in an engaging learning environment. Additional simulation-based activities were embedded across campus events throughout the year, including mental health and wellness fairs and a collaborative “Safe Winter Break” initiative, in which simulation goggles were used to raise awareness of the effects of alcohol and substance use. Collectively, these experiences emphasized holistic care for individuals and the community, aligning with the institution's mission to educate health professionals to care for the whole person.
PCOM's Simulation Centers host a variety of events throughout the academic year including high-fidelity simulations, tours, ultrasound labs, graduate medical education events and more. Medical students experience simulations including areas such as orthopedics, labor and delivery, head injuries, abdominal issues and cardiac events. Students also have the opportunity to practice intubation, lumbar puncture, suturing, phlebotomy, injections, airway management, and other primary care skills.
Discover how PCOM is improving training experiences for future healthcare providers through standardized patients and state-of-the-art training facilities including the Saltzburg Clinical Learning and Assessment Center at PCOM's main campus in Philadelphia, PA, the PCOM Georgia Simulation Center in Suwanee, GA and the PCOM South Georgia Simulation Center at our Moultrie, GA location.
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