RRC Polytech opens Manitoba’s first Interdisciplinary Health and Community Services Simulation Centre – set to begin training future health leaders in January 2025.

Winnipeg, MB on Treaty No. 1 Territory and the Homeland of the Red River Métis – 

Healthcare education at Red River College Polytechnic (RRC Polytech) is entering a new chapter today with the opening of its new Interdisciplinary Health and Community Services Simulation Centre (the Simulation Centre). This first-of-its kind training facility in Manitoba will begin training the province’s future health leaders this January.

The Simulation Centre is a groundbreaking interdisciplinary facility that will revolutionize healthcare training in Manitoba. It is the first interdisciplinary centre of its kind in Manitoba to focus on nursing, allied health professions and community services and has 16,630 square feet of state-of-the-art learning space at RRC Polytech’s Notre Dame Campus.

“The Simulation Centre will maximize education opportunities and provide immersive and collaborative training for our health and community care programs,” said Fred Meier, President and CEO, RRC Polytech. “As one of the largest trainers of healthcare professionals in the province, this is an exciting new frontier in how we can better train and prepare students to be confident in their careers and make an impact in our communities throughout the province.”

“Simulation is critical as it ensures students in all programs have access to immediate experiential training opportunities vital to graduation, gaining experience that helps better prepare them for the clinical environment and ultimately, being job ready on day one,” said Meier.

Using state-of-the art high-fidelity simulation equipment and live actors to create small- and large-scale activities and mock scenarios, the Simulation Centre will provide students from various health disciplines in 13 programs with real-world experiences that mirror the realities they will face in the workplace. These training opportunities will equip students to fill vital and in-demand career roles in Manitoba’s healthcare system from their first day on the job.

The Simulation Centre was made possible through ongoing support from the Province of Manitoba, who this year invested over $6 million in funding towards the development along with ongoing operating support – providing a total investment of over $12.5 million.

 “This state-of-the-art centre is an example of the high-quality training that is offered right here in Manitoba. Bringing students together from different health disciplines allows our future healthcare workers to get hands-on training that reflects the realities of their future workplaces,” said Minister of Advanced Education and Training, Renée Cable.

“Together, with our partners at RRC Polytech, we’re ensuring that the future of healthcare in Manitoba is in good hands,” said Minister of Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care, Uzoma Asagwara. “Innovative learning opportunities guarantee that future generations of healthcare workers are well-equipped to offer top-quality care to Manitobans. I look forward to seeing how the centre improves students’ education and how as a result, Manitoba continues to be a top choice for folks wanting to study and work in healthcare.”

Designed with the future of healthcare professions in mind, the Simulation Centre will continue to evolve alongside emerging technological and social innovations, as well as RRC Polytech’s commitments to reconciliation, equity, diversity, and inclusion.  The Simulation Centre was designed with Indigenous teaching and practices woven throughout. Each of the debriefing rooms are named after Indigenous healing plants which are integrated through the Centre. The space also has an Elder’s Room and includes spaces for smudging and ceremonies.

The space was created to accommodate growth in these programs. It has the capacity to train up to 12,000 students each academic year, and up to six simulations can be run at a time in the various simulation spaces. The Simulation Centre is designed to replicate real hospital environments, including multi-patient rooms, and an adaptable apartment space that supports a wide range of interdisciplinary scenarios.

The facility also includes a triage station for training health unit clerks, as well as an exam room designed to mimic a healthcare practitioner’s space. Several flexible spaces, with movable walls, can be reconfigured to accommodate large group gatherings or simulations that require non-hospital settings.

Streaming and recording capabilities within the Simulation Center will allow regional campuses to observe live simulations which can also be viewed in the large lecture theater connected to the Simulation Centre. This would allow a larger audience to engage with and participate in the simulation experience.

Students will train with standardized participant actors to fill the role of patients, and the Simulation Centre enter is equipped with a diverse range of advanced mannequins, spanning from infant to older adult, to effectively simulate various stages of life.

The Simulation Centre will support new and existing students and provide opportunities for the current workforce to upgrade their skills. A dedicated simulation educator will be available to support industry partners who wish to use the center. This educator will assist in developing simulations that align with learning objectives, provide exceptional student experience, and uphold the highest standards in simulation.

For more information about the Simulation Centre, and the programs it supports, go to rrc.ca/sim.