Campus & Community

Palm Beach State College has received a generous grant from The Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation to expand its Center of Excellence in Medical Simulation.

The expanded center will elevate teaching and learning for the College’s nursing and health science students and feature a proposed 14,202-square-foot facility, comprised of PBSC’s existing simulation labs and nearby classrooms on the second floor of the Education and Training Administration building on the Lake Worth campus.

“We are thrilled to receive this generous gift from the DeLuca family who share in our passion to improve communities through education,” said PBSC President Ava L. Parker, J.D. “We want this center to not only be a leader in health care technology innovation but be a national model for other colleges and universities to follow, especially through virtual teaching and learning which are so crucial in this COVID-19 era.”

The College’s goal is to have the center student ready for the spring 2022 term. The facility would be a part of PBSC’s Health Science and Emergency Medical Services programs and will allow a multidisciplinary approach to clinical simulation emulating what actually occurs in today’s health care settings. PBSC staff would also collaborate with local hospitals and health care facility personnel to run simulations helping community health care workers with continuing education and professional needs.

Through the center, students will have access to more cutting-edge computerized manikins (e.g. SimMan 3G) representing each gender and stage of life, enabling real-world clinical training. Activities will focus on transfer of care, telemedicine and an Anatomage Table (3D anatomy visualization and virtual dissection). Instructors will facilitate clinical sessions remotely in real-time with sessions recorded, annotated, time-stamped and debriefed with students.

Through the center, nursing cohorts will also be able to complete 50% of their clinical training hours through medical simulation, the maximum allowed by the Florida Board of Nursing, thereby doubling students’ current rate of 25% for completion.

“During this pandemic, it has become increasingly clear how important our health care workers are,” said Elisabeth DeLuca, president of The Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation. “Our educational institutions must plan for and provide pathways for people to enter this profession. That is what Palm Beach State College is striving to do, and we are pleased to partner with them. Skilled nursing is at the heart of excellent patient care, and the simulation center is a critical component of training our health care workers to become the best they can be.”

One goal of the center will be for nursing student cohorts to achieve pass rates above U.S. average for the National Council Licensing Exams for Registered and Practical Nursing students and first-time exam success on state licensure exams for all disciplines. The College also hopes to see nursing students exceed standards of the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL), PBSC’s simulation accrediting body.

“The Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation shares in our vision to elevate Palm Beach State as a leader in medical simulation training and excellence,” said PBSC Vice President of Institutional Advancement David Rutherford. “Their transformational gift impacts not only the college but also our entire community. The advancement of our simulation program allows Palm Beach State to provide a consistent pipeline of highly qualified medical professionals to health care facilities throughout Palm Beach County. We are truly grateful for the DeLuca Foundation’s partnership and investment of this magnitude.”

The PBSC Center of Excellence in Medical Simulation is open to all health science students; however, the largest number of users comes from the nursing program.

The Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation, Inc. was created in 1997 by the late Frederick DeLuca, co-founder of the global SUBWAY® restaurant chain, to provide youth and adults the tools to achieve independence and self-sufficiency. Since its inception, the foundation has provided educational scholarship opportunities and grants to community-based organizations in the state of Connecticut. Today, the Foundation supports health awareness, workforce development, and artistic experiences through educational programs that enhance the lives of children and families throughout South Florida.