GA-PCOM will host a groundbreaking and ribbon cutting February 22 to showcase two new and developing additions including its Simulation Center.
A groundbreaking and ribbon cutting are planned for Wednesday, February 22, at 11 a.m. at Georgia Campus – Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (GA-PCOM) in Suwanee and the community is invited to join the celebration.
With a combined investment of more than $8 million, a physical therapy education center and additional research space are being constructed in a 20,000 square foot area. In addition, a Simulation Center opened recently and will be officially dedicated.
Chief Campus Officer Bryan Ginn said, “PCOM continues to invest and grow its health science programs in Gwinnett in response to demonstrated educational need in our region and our state.”
He added, “These capital investments of more than $8 million will pay dividends toward our student's educational outcomes in both existing and new academic programs, and enhance GA-PCOM's role in educating future healthcare providers.”
The theme of the day is “Together we are building a stronger, healthier community” which speaks to both the PCOM community and the Gwinnett and Georgia communities at large. As GA-PCOM adds and enhances programs, the campus-wide community benefits. As these programs educate students and produce graduates, the wider community benefits as more providers are available to treat patients.
As the physical therapy education center is constructed, a physical therapy education program is under development. GA-PCOM is seeking accreditation for this program from the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). The college plans to submit an Application for Candidacy, which is the formal application required in the pre-accreditation stage, on December 1, 2017. If candidacy status is granted, the college will admit the inaugural class of students in June 2018.
Through the use of patient actors and simulators, the Simulation Center gives GA-PCOM students a supportive environment to practice clinical skills, develop crucial communication abilities, and demonstrate clinical competence prior to treating real patients. Patient actors, also known as standardized patients, are trained to document the skills of students and to provide them with honest and constructive feedback based on clinical performance. Sessions are recorded on video for evaluation and review by faculty members and students.
The Center also uses state-of-the-art human patient simulators to train students. The simulators are full-body mannequins that breathe and have heartbeats, pupils that react to light and medications, pulses that can be felt at eight locations, and lung sounds. They can also talk and accurately mimic human physiology responses to procedures such as CPR, intubation, ventilation, and catheterization. In addition, birthing and neonatal simulators are available to provide a complete birthing experience before, during and after delivery. Surgical, virtual, ultrasound and multi able trainers are also available.
PCOM Georgia has been serving students and the community for 20 years as a branch campus of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM), a private, not-for-profit, accredited institution of higher education established in 1899. Located in Suwanee (Gwinnett County), PCOM Georgia offers doctoral degrees in osteopathic medicine, pharmacy and physical therapy. Graduate degrees are offered in biomedical sciences, medical laboratory science and physician assistant studies. The campus joins PCOM South Georgia in Moultrie in helping to meet the healthcare needs of the state. Emphasizing "a whole person" approach to care, PCOM Georgia focuses on educational excellence, interprofessional education and service to the community. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 678-225-7500. The campus is also home to the Georgia Osteopathic Care Center, an osteopathic manipulative medicine clinic, which is open to the public by appointment. For more information, visit pcomgeorgiahealth.org.
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