GREENSBORO, N.C. — There's nothing like getting hands-on experience, especially in the medical field.
But in the era of COVID, many universities have had to change how they do things. ECPI University introduced a new program that lets its students grow while learning virtually.
It's called the hospital. It's a simulation platform that lets students practice clinical skills wherever they are, on their own schedule.
"We have it used by our medical assistant programs, physical therapy, our registered nursing program and all of our practical nursing programs," Thom Hodges, director of nursing said.
The project was spurred due to the pandemic. When classes shifted online, the university knew students would be missing out on critical learning opportunities.
"When COVID came along I mean within six weeks we were ready with our first platform," Hodges said.
The eHospital is broken up into 6 parts: Triage, Patient Room, Medical Laboratory, Education Center, Operating, and Emergency Rooms.
"There is a checklist with everything that has to be done so that the student can actually complete the task and then it shows that they are actually been exposed and are competent in the skill," Hodges said.
And while this won't be a replacement for the students, Hodges says he expects this program to stick around long after COVID is gone.
"It is going to be the best thing because it's going to supplement their classroom time, their lab time, and even if they are in the actual clinical setting and we can actually help them to go back and review procedures right then and there," Hodges said.