Virtual Training for New Healthcare Facilities by Vince Press, former Director of Communications Training staff for the opening a new facility can be extremely difficult, especially during a pandemic. The traditional method of onsite workflow planning is immensely limited at this time. CPL and its Creative Labs Team were recently commissioned by the Rochester Regional Health System to develop a fully interactive, virtual training model for front line workers to become familiar with their new spaces in the Sands-Constellation Center for Critical Care tower in Rochester, NY. Because of COVID-19 restrictions as well as expedited construction activity, access to the building had been restricted, however, familiarization to the space remained crucial prior to its opening in September. Why is acclimation to the space so important? From knowing where critical supplies and equipment are located, to staff wayfinding, to optimizing patient throughput, this tool is incredibly significant, especially in a new facility where the individual units themselves are approximately three times larger than their existing space at Rochester General Hospital. Ironically, the 7-story, 312,000-square-foot tower was designed and planned well before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the design is the exact kind of modern healthcare facility that health systems across the globe will now be looking to build. With characteristics like acuity adaptable patient rooms, this stateof-the-art facility will aid in providing care for a variety of patient types. And with ample flex and surge spaces, the facility is also prepared for a future pandemic surge. In total, 48 program locations were programmed into the virtual model including locations in the NICU, Operating Room Suite, Post Anesthesia Care Unit, Postpartum Care Unit, and a standard patient floor. Click here for a virtual tour of one of the patient bays (use mouse to look around). Terry Meagher, a Senior Project Manager with Rochester Regional Health, has seen first-hand the benefits of the simulation training. “With limited time and availability to get into the space, the CPL virtual tours are a significant part of the overall training program. These virtual models, which we have embedded into a variety of computerbased 10 | The ROCHESTER ENGINEER OCTOBER 2020
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