Our Services

COH Simulation is dedicated to serving programs and supporting learning through faculty workshops, collaborative scenario development, and targeted training sessions.

people reading projector screenOur Facilitator workshops are crafted to empower faculty with hands-on experiences that bridge theory with practice. They're not your typical sit-and-listen sessions; they're immersive, interactive experiences that bring learning to life.

Scenario development is where the magic happens. We build relationships to gather insights, spark discussions, and explore the latest trends and innovations in healthcare education. It's a collaborative space where ideas flourish and perspectives converge to make a meaningful impact on student learning outcomes. Whether it's faculty members fine-tuning their teaching techniques or external organizations seeking tailored solutions, these sessions are all about practical, applicable learning. 

Simulation training sessions in courses are where the rubber meets the road. By encountering diverse simulated cases, students can directly apply theoretical knowledge, witnessing its practical implications and refining their understanding in a tangible setting.


Simulation in Programs

icons representing health-care various industries


The Interprofessional Health Sciences Simulation Center partners with a variety of programs across the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±¼Ç¼ and the surrounding community.

Doctorate

    • Clinical Psychology 
    • Medicine 
    • Nursing Practice 
    • Occupational Therapy 
    • Pharmacy

 

Bachelors

    • Dietetics 
    • Legal Studies 
    • Nursing 
    • Social Work

Masters

    • Nursing 
    • Physician Assistant 
    • Psychology 
    • Social Work

 

Associates

    • Fire and EMT  
    • Medical Assisting
    • Medical Lab Sciences
    • Nursing
    • Physical Therapy Assisting
    • Sonography Technician

Community

    • Alaska Comprehensive Forensic Training Academy 
    • Alaska Family Medicine Residency 
    • Crisis Now Peer Support 
    • End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium 
    • LifeCenter Northwest 
    • LifeMed Alaska 
    • Providence Alaska

 


Testimonials


  • siemee xiong speaking next to anotomny model

    "The COH Simulation Center staff have contributed to my success in the program and as a graduate. The simulation technicians are informed, and during the simulation, they gave me advice. My nursing colleagues and I were able to interact and practice the nursing skills we had learnt from the nursing skills lab in a supportive and safe setting that they established in the simulation center. knowledgeable and provided guidance when I was in the simulation. The fact that they could speak for the patient and did a great job portraying the patient while I was the nurse avatar giving care was my favorite aspect.

    I practiced hand-off communication using the SBAR (situation, background, assessment, and recommendation) tool. In the clinical situation with the patient and provider, I practiced listening and asked clarifying questions. Taking care of a patient who needs post-operative surgical care is one of the specific abilities and concepts that I was able to emphasize by taking part in simulated scenarios. I had the opportunity to practice using the bladder scanner on the patient due to urinary retention and inserting a straight catheter insertion.

    I practiced the six rights of medication administration for nurses (right patient, right drug, right dosage, right route, right time, right documentation). I provided patient teaching using a pillow to support the surgical incision with deep breathing and coughing exercises. I was given the chance to care for a pediatric patient admitted for an ear infection and had Type 1 diabetes mellitus. I worked on using vocabulary that was age-appropriate for the pediatric patient’s age."

    - Siemee Xiong, Student, ÀÏ°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±¼Ç¼ School of Nursing

  • briana-pili talking to group at table

    "The simulated experience allowed myself and the team to learn the needs of Robbie by reading her body language, allowing her to drive the conversation, practice open-ended questions, and work on techniques to deescalate Robbie. 

    Simulated trainings are valuable for individuals working in behavioral health and crisis care because they have to know how to meet individuals where they are and be compassionate and empathetic so that the individual feels safe to speak with them. The training helped me identify triggers that "Robbie" had and because of the reaction I received, I was able to retract my steps and deescalate Robbie."

    - Briana Pili, Cultural Peer Support Specialist II

  • School of Social Work faculty member talking at table

    "The ÀÏ°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±¼Ç¼ School of Social Work has been collaborating with the ÀÏ°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±¼Ç¼ College of Health Interprofessional Simulation Center for over ten years, primarily to develop and offer interactive learning opportunities to BSW and MSW students in specific practice courses. The COH Interprofessional Simulation Center is so incredibly skilled, helpful, and accommodating with assisting programs in designing, implementing, facilitating, and evaluating simulation experiences for students. The Peer-Centered Crisis Response simulation (supported by the State of Alaska and the Alaska Mental Health Trust) is a meaningful and feasible experience due to the efforts and support of the COH Interprofessional Simulation staff!

    The Peer-Centered Crisis Response training is valuable for everyone who is interested--behavioral health professionals, administrative staff, students from any/all backgrounds, community members and leaders, representatives from varied social services--truly anyone!

    The topic of this particular simulation is intended to provide a helpful learning experience for those both with and without experience in addressing complex needs of individuals in the community who are in crisis. Those with experience will be able to practice existing skills; for those who are new to the content or situation, they will develop insight and understanding about how to intervene with community members in need of support."

    - Alexa Filanowicz, ÀÏ°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±¼Ç¼ Bachelor of Social Work Field Coordinator
  • Ronald K Shugak talking to group at table

    "I learned what I do in actual life is actually what I practice in real life, and recognizing how important the peer support role is. I feel the simulation was important to get us out of our comfort zone and be able to face real life crisis."

    - Ronald K Shugak, Cultural Peer Support

  • Lyndsey Kellard talking to group at table

    "I learned a lot from this simulation. It is very important to stay calm and keep peace of mind while addressing these situations. I learned a new calming technique, featuring tracing your hand with your index finger while practicing calm breathing. It was good to simulate working with other departments and community resources. This really draws the attention to the need-to-know resources and complete the proper networking so that we can serve the person in need. It re-enforced the concept of keeping true to your word and carrying through with promises to keep repour with the client.

    Simulation trainings are vital for people working in behavioral health and crisis care. These trainings help us learn what to do during these situations. The simulation gives us the space to make mistakes, without resulting in a terrible outcome for the client. Without this training and proper preparation, these situations could go horrifically when happening in real time.  Simulation's give us the comfort and ease to practice our skills, and have gives us the confidence to address these situations when they occur with grace.

    I think everyone in the community should have this training available so that we can assist people in need, regardless of our profession. However, it is a great start and a wonderful resource to us healthcare professionals. Thank you for hosting this simulation and preparing us for the real world! Special thanks to Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority for making this all possible."

    - Lyndsey Kellard, Cultural Peer Support Professional II
  • Sasha Tsurnos talking to group at table

    "This Peer Centered Crisis Response simulation experience intends to provide a safe learning environment for members of crisis response teams to collaboratively engage in their unique roles with community members in crisis who need supportive, compassionate, and least restrictive interventions and services. These trainings are offered virtually 1-2x a month through May 2024.

    Our hope is to provide exposure to the Crisis Now Model Framework and the value of peer support specialists on a mobile crisis team. This simulation also offers each attendee to role play a real life situation working with an individual in crisis, awareness of how each attendee responds to an individual in crisis, reduce stigma in roles interacting with first responders, effective debriefing and awareness of how they feel after the crisis, increase confidence in their skill set, and how each role on a crisis team is interchangeable and effective."

    - Sasha Tsurnos, Peer Support Specialist, ÀÏ°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±¼Ç¼ School of Social Work
  • eric oba holding tool to measure grip strength

    "Working with the COH Simulation Center staff was easy and informative. They asked a number of questions to make sure what we planned together would meet the needs/outcomes of our participants. This was a great experience where we were able to introduce high-school aged youth to healthcare skills and careers through some hands-on experiences, rather than a lecture.

    We had to go back and forth a couple times making sure we were clear and on the same page, but they were helpful and easy to work with. COH Sim Center seemed genuinely interested in making sure our needs/outcomes were met and that they provided an experience that would meet the wide variety of participants we brought. To my understanding, our brains remember and recall information better when it is attached to some sort of experience or emotional trigger. Simulation provides experiences (and sometimes well-placed triggers) that provoke emotions and learning. 

    When we are able to suspend our disbelief, and lean into the simulation experience, it provides an excellent opportunity to practice skills that we might typically have to wait to practice until we are an employee in the healthcare field. Intentional Simulation gives us the opportunity to learn, grow, and see how prepared we actually are to respond to certain situations or scenarios. Asking students to perform skills in a simulation, shows better understanding than asking them to verbally recall the steps in a classroom, and it can lead to a better learning experience when we can provide timely feedback or necessary corrections."

    - Eric Oba, Program Director, ÀÏ°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±¼Ç¼ Department of Health, Physical Education, & Rectredation

  • Ryan Fortson talking at podium

    "Simulation center was great at coordinating a standardized performer for a legal client interview. The performer they found was wonderful. I drafted the interview text, but the simulation center coordinated pre-meetings with the performer and asked good questions on content and logistics. Simulations are more engaging for students and give them valuable experience for when they enter the workforce."

    - Ryan Fortson, Program Coordinator, ÀÏ°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±¼Ç¼ Legal Studies Program