South Cook News

Franciscan Health has introduced a new simulation room and a SimRig ambulance replica at its Education Center in Greenwood, Indiana. The new technology, developed by Immersive Interactive and supplied by Echo Healthcare, is designed to create realistic training environments for healthcare professionals.

The Immersive Interactive system can transform classrooms and other spaces into customizable virtual settings, including hospital rooms and community environments. It allows educators to simulate thousands of different scenarios for learners to practice critical skills.

Josee Harrell, simulation clinical educator at Franciscan Health, described the impact of the installation: “This is a total game-changer for us. Having these new spaces expands our current simulation and educational ability. We already have a great simulation center and supportive team, but this Immersive Interactive room is only one of three in the state, and the other two are hours away.”

According to Harrell, the system supports both traditional medical training and specialized simulations such as physician’s office visits or emergency responses for EMS providers. Learners experience sights, sounds, smells, and tactile feedback during their training.

“Whether it’s a mass casualty, an OB emergency, or complex medical resuscitation, they get to rehearse teamwork, communication, and critical decision-making,” said Harrell. “With the use of our camera and recording systems, educators and learners also can review actual performance and dramatically increase team and self-reflection. That translates directly into a stronger response in the field and safer care in the communities we serve.”

The immersive environment aims to reduce anxiety among trainees while improving skill retention. Harrell noted: “The response has been incredible. We’ve noticed that it seems to help reduce anxiety and increase skill retention. We can have you fully immersed in cardiology learning and in the click of a button we can be standing in the middle of a calming beach scene and debriefing what we’ve learned.”

Beyond staff education, Franciscan Health plans to use the system for interactive workshops with community members on various health topics.

“Ultimately, patients get better care thanks to these efforts,” said Harrell. “When a patient needs urgent intervention, their team has already ‘been there’ in training. It means faster decisions, smoother teamwork, and better outcomes.”

The acquisition was made possible through funding from the Blue Skies Innovation Challenge organized by the Franciscan Health Foundation. This internal contest encourages employees to propose ideas for improving services.

“Ideas are only as strong as the support behind them, and the Blue Skies Challenge gave me the platform to turn a vision into reality,” said Harrell. “It shows that innovation is valued at Franciscan and that leadership is willing to invest in new ways to train, learn, and improve patient care.”

A community open house featuring demonstrations will be held at the Education Center on November 6 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., providing an opportunity for visitors to see the new facilities firsthand.