NE North Dakota News

The Simulation In Motion – North Dakota (SIM-ND) program at the University of North Dakota's School of Medicine & Health Sciences Simulation Center has been awarded a $1.3 million grant by the Economic Development Administration.

Jessi Nicola, Program Administrator of the SMHS Simulation Center, described the grant as a "game-changer" and commended her team for their efforts in acquiring new mobile simulation equipment for use across North Dakota. "We’re excited about all the ways this award allows us to continue to expand and fulfill our mission while enhancing North Dakota’s health care workforce and building resiliency in the health care professionals throughout North Dakota," said Nicola. "Ultimately, this work will mean improved patient care and health care outcomes in our state."

SIM-ND is a statewide simulation education program managed from the UND SMHS Simulation Center. Since 2013, it has provided hands-on training to healthcare workers throughout North Dakota, including rural paramedics, firefighters, national guardsmen, medical residents, and physicians. The program utilizes four 44-foot mobile simulation lab trucks that offer two separate simulation spaces for versatile learning opportunities. High-fidelity human simulators are used to create a realistic learning environment.

According to SIM-ND Coordinator Tawni Harvala, the new funding will allow SIM-ND to procure four new mobile simulation vans. This addition will enable more efficient outreach medical training efforts across North Dakota. "The vans will be a great addition to our fleet," Harvala explained. "They will offer additional simulation space and are better equipped to handle our extreme North Dakota weather." The grant also facilitates purchasing updated simulation equipment such as new infant simulators, simulated ventilators, and defibrillators.

Harvala noted that since its inception, SIM-ND has trained over thirty thousand individual healthcare learners through its medical simulation activities in communities across North Dakota.