School of Health & Patient Simulation

The School of Health & Patient Simulation is a national, regional and local trendsetter in the use of patient simulation to enhance the learning objectives of the curriculums. The School of Health & Patient Simulation is home to SIMS Medical Center™ (SMC), the teaching hospital at STCC. SMC provides state-of-the-art educational environments where students and current health care personnel obtain new skills and refine existing competencies with an experienced faculty and staff dedicated to the exploration of patient simulation with the goal of improved patient care.

An emphasis on interdisciplinary scenarios closely replicates the medical workforce environment of today. SMC includes a four-bed Acute Care Unit, Trauma Room / Flex Unit, Surgical Suite, Sterile Processing Unit, Basic Care Unit, Outpatient Services, Family Life Unit and the Berkshire Bank Critical Care Unit. Students obtain direct hands-on experience with patient simulators from Laerdal, CAE, and Gaumard placed in realistic medical settings. SMC is a Laerdal Center of Educational Excellence, www.simsmedicalcenter.com/.

The School of Health & Patient Simulation is overseen by Dean Christopher Scott.

Applying:

All students applying to SHPS programs must take the College math, English, and reading placement tests. See individual program requirements contained in this electronic catalog.  It is highly recommended that each applicant contact the Admissions Office or the Program Chairperson as early as possible for clarification of entrance requirements.

Check with the program you wish to enter about the following conditions:  (Examples only)

• Some programs have a deadline date for application. 
• There may be a course (or more) that needs to be completed with a minimum grade before acceptance.
• Courses, for example Anatomy and Physiology, that you wish to transfer may have a time limit. In other words, a course taken more than three (3) years ago may not “count” toward acceptance.  Check with the individual health program for prerequisite requirements. Link to Course retake policy.
• LATEX Warning.  There are times when the College cannot determine if products, materials or supplies of any variety contain latex.  On and off campus experiences may expose you to latex.   

Once you are accepted into a Health Program:

• All health requirements MUST be met for both Commonwealth of Massachusetts and individual clinical sites (where you go for hands on experience with patients).  
• A Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) and Sex Offender Record Information (SORI) background check will be performed.  These checks will be performed at least once each year that you attend a health program.  A clinical site may perform a second CORI/SORI check.
• Clinical sites may require an initial drug test and random drug tests.
• Hands-on clinical experiences will be scheduled according to clinical site and program needs. That means your clinical site may be outside of Springfield, including but not limited to Western Massachusetts, Northern Connecticut and in some special circumstances, out of Massachusetts. The actual hours of the clinical experience may be during the day, evening and weekends. Some programs may have a summer session as well, even if not originally scheduled.  The cost of traveling to a clinical site is your responsibility. There is an additional charge for intersession and summer classes.
• Clinical sites on and off campus have the right to refuse your participation if you have not met all their requirements, including but not limited to Immunizations, CORI/SORI and drug testing.
• Malpractice Insurance is required at your cost and will be arranged with the College.
• Each health program has a uniform and name badge policy.  Clinical sites may have additional requirements like having to use their identification badge.
• Visible body piercings and tattoos are generally not allowed at on or off campus clinical sites.
• Individual health programs may have additional requirements.
• Health courses have limits on the number of times you can miss class, lab or clinical experiences. Exceeding those limits could cause you to fail and/or be removed from the course and program.
• Health courses have minimum grade requirements for each course.  For example only, a final course grade of 70% is actually a failing grade instead of a “C.” 

Continuing in a Health Program:

The Dean of the School of Health & Patient Simulation may suspend or withdraw from a health program/course of study any student who does not meet the standards/experiences of a program/course of study or who fails to adhere to College, School or Program policies regardless of academic standing.  This policy includes any behavior that does not meet Professional Standards.

Coming back to a Health Program:

Click here  for information about the re-admission process.

The departments within the School of Health & Patient Simulation are listed below. Select the “Go to information” link for a list of that department’s course offerings, or select from the “Programs” list to see degree or certificate offerings within that department.