The primary goal of the high-fidelity Richard A. Henson Medical Simulation Center (SIM Center) is to provide invaluable experiences for students in a number of programs including the planned Doctor of Nursing Practice Program to be offered in the fall of 2011. The SIM Center will also support revenue-generating development opportunities for regional health professionals and provide revenue-generating human performance services to local citizens.

Simulation experiences typically involve high-fidelity medical mannequins which can be remotely controlled to enact planned scenarios demonstrating various clinical events. The simulation experiences are video-taped (typically with multiple cameras) for later review by instructor and students. Alternatively, ‘standardized patients’ (trained actors) may interact with student clinicians and portray various illnesses (e.g. mental health symptoms). The interactions between student and ‘standardized patient’ are filmed for later review and feedback.

There are several important reasons for using simulation within health care education including:

1) Allowing students to have experiential learning where clinical opportunities are limited or entirely not available (e.g., neonatal intensive care, pediatric acute care, labor/delivery/post-partum/recovery, etc.);

2) Providing students with exposure to simulated symptoms of rare events that if not identified in the clinical setting would most assuredly result in death or harm.

3) Simulating invasive procedures that pose real risks to actual patients, and

4) Reducing litigable risk to the student and the institution by using simulators instead of real patients.

Overall Project:

Salisbury University has recently purchased four medical condominium units at the Pine Bluff Medical Center South located at 106 Pine Bluff Road in Salisbury to be converted into the University’s SIM Center. These existing units were previous medical and rehabilitation (physical) facilities. The existing total gross square footage of these four spaces is approximately 4,825 GSF. It is located 1 block south of the main campus and is within a short walking distance from Devilbiss Hall. The existing space is undergoing a complete renovation to accommodate the new center, which will open in August 2011.

Project Cost (building construction/renovation only): $624,000

Design Start: September 2010

Construction Start: April 2011

Completion Date: August 2011

I. The Need

The vision for the Salisbury University Medical Simulation Center targets three main goals:

1) Enhancing nursing, respiratory care, medical lab science, and other health care-related education at Salisbury University through:

a. Improved educational experiences for students by allowing students to practice technical skills and scenarios more realistically in a controlled and learner-friendly setting.

b. Increased enrollments in healthcare courses (e.g., Nursing, Respiratory Therapy, and Applied Health Physiology).

c. Improved graduate self-confidence and performance of duties entering the workforce.

2) Increasing the ability of Salisbury University to offer continuing medical education courses including standardized courses from several professional organizations (e.g. American Heart Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, and Society of Critical Care Medicine) and as may be required by new licensure paradigm in Nursing.

3) Providing an opportunity for Salisbury University to offer sophisticated human performance analysis and training to the community. The M.S. program in Applied Health Physiology (AHPH) and undergraduate program in Exercise Science train their graduates to work with patients/clients in rehabilitation, fitness and/or sport performance. Currently, the programs teach techniques of evaluating physical fitness (e.g., VO₂ Max Testing, Lactate Threshold Testing, Body Fat Analysis, etc.). Developing a Human Performance Center where these measurements could easily be measured on subjects would provide a valuable learning lab for APHP and Exercise Science students. In addition, a Human Performance Lab could be a revenue-generating resource that provides valuable services for community members.

This need is magnified by program growth (including the planned DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) program); the high quality of simulation facilities at our competitor institutions; and the regional lack of access to pediatric, obstetric, and other types of clinical experiences.

II. Scope of Work

Main characteristics which are summarized:

A. General: Complete renovation of interior condo units #14, 15, 16 & 17. Also renovate the rear shared storage/electrical/mechanical to the extent necessary to adequately serve the University’s needs. This area will also house a Telcom Closet and a compressor/medical gas room.

1) All work will meet current applicable codes.

2) Coordinate and comply with the local utility companies as necessary for services as required.

B. Architectural:

1) Exterior wall construction is in good condition. Exterior front and rear doors need to be replaced. Exterior proximity card readers with magnetic locking devices (on an emergency circuit and connected to the campus security system) are required at the two main front entry doors (Psychology side and Office/Waiting side) and rear door.

2) Given the current configuration of many small rooms, it will be impossible to accommodate the new architectural space design requirements without major interior renovation. The complete demolition of all four interior condo unit walls, ceilings, and floor finishes will need to occur leaving only the exposed floor, stud walls and open truss roof framing. This will need to be accomplished to give access for new updated code electrical and HVAC work along with new finish upgrades. Portions of the existing slab on grade concrete floor will need to be removed (saw cut, etc.) for demolition and installation of new plumbing fixtures. The exterior shell of the building structure is anticipated to remain intact.

3) Space requirement: There will be no interior existing spaces reused/modified. All of the interior will be gutted except for structural floors, exterior walls and roof. New space requirements included in the renovation include but are not limited to: offices, ADA compliant toilet rooms, four hospital style Simulation Labs with accessory control/AV rooms, Human Performance Lab, housekeeping with mop sink, telecommunications room, Debriefing Room (with Smart Classroom Technology), Nursing Station, storage/work rooms, Psychology/Mental Health (simulation) rooms with accessory control spaces, two waiting/reception areas, and support spaces.

4) New wall, floor and ceiling finishes appropriate to the function of the newly designed spaces/rooms.

5) All new interior doors will have card access Onity battery operated locksets installed consistent with Salisbury University standard hardware (not connected to campus security system) such that the University’s portion of the building becomes “keyless”.

6) Existing conditions will be upgraded to accommodate required current ADA design standards. All new design considerations will include current ADA design standards.

7) New exterior and interior signage in accordance with Salisbury University standards.

C. Mechanical:

1) As noted previously, there is one rooftop mounted forced air HVAC unit for each condo unit. All new rooftop units will be provided and all units will require the re-working of the ductwork to accommodate the new design.

2) There is visual presence of boiler piping in the attic space but these seem to be from an abandoned boiler system. These shall be removed to accommodate full access at new design.

3) Automated controls will be provided for the new HVAC units to be connected to the campus Energy Management System (EMS).

4) Simulation Labs special utilities to include but not limited to: vacuum suction (separate wall mounted units behind bed stations), oxygen and compressed air supply. These connections will be through a hospital style bed headboard.

5) Plumbing, including domestic water and sanitary piping will need to be significantly reworked with materials conducive to a University environment.

D. Electrical:

1) There is one electrical panel location for each existing condo unit along with separate meters located on the exterior of the shared storage space in the rear of the building. Coordination with the appropriate local power supply company will include the new design requirements.

2) As the four separate unit design configuration becomes one combined space, the four separate electrical services will be combined into one which also includes it’s metering.

3) The building is now wired with older residential style “Romex” wiring as observed in the attic space. All existing wiring will need to be disconnected and removed. All the new spaces will need to be wired with new MC cable (or similar code approved flexible metallic materials” to meet current commercial electrical codes.

E. Plumbing:

1) There are 18 existing plumbing fixtures dispersed throughout the existing space configuration. All these fixtures will need to be abandoned/demolished along with the introduction of new fixtures to accommodate the new design. The existing floor construction is a concrete slab on grade. Therefore, there will be floor slab cutting/patching/replacement involved throughout the unit spaces.

2) Any new design capacities must be sized and coordinated with the local sanitary/water supply authorities.

F. Fire Alarm:

1) A new addressable fire alarm system will be installed. It shall be connected to the University Police Dispatch Office.

G. IT/Audio/Visual (A/V) Components:

1) The new design will incorporate the appropriate level of A/V and IT design, (voice, data, coax) in accordance with Salisbury University standards to meet the needs of the entire facility.

2) Wired Ethernet required.

3) At interior locations designated by the University, wireless access ceiling panels will be provided to SU standards.

H. Other:

1) One University standard “blue light” emergency phone shall be installed on the north front side (exterior) of the building of the entry point.

2) Two electric car charging stations will be installed on the north side of the existing parking lot.

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