Dr. George Ball Simulation Center

About

The Dr. George Ball Simulation Center provides a dedicated environment for health care students and community providers to learn strategies, which enhances patient safety and the quality of health care through the use of high-fidelity simulation technology. This environment provides the learner opportunities to collaborate in clinical experiences in a safe, non-threatening and structured environment with an emphasis on inter-professional, team-based training, and leadership. The Simulation Center supports the goal of the Nursing Allied Health Center programs to prepare individuals to be competent, caring, health care professionals.

The establishment of the Dr. George Ball Simulation Center was the result of the generous donation of Dr. Christopher Ball and Dr. Kyle Ball of the building that housed their former obstetrics and gynecology practice to the college in 2011, their father, Dr. George Ball, was very explicit in his desire that “the boys” get all the recognition for this generous decision – even though he was a founding partner when the building opened in 1972 in South Jackson. In 1982, Hinds Community College moved all of its nursing and allied health programs into the new Nursing Allied Health Center, which is just around the corner from the Ball medical practice building.

For Hinds Community College, the medical facility donation was a welcome solution for the Nursing Allied Health Center, where enrollment had grown to more than 1,000 students in 13 nursing and allied health programs. Simulation technology was a high priority for the college, but there was no space at the Nursing Allied Health Center to house the sophisticated technology or the rooms needed to train faculty and students. The new center includes five simulation labs and is used to train faculty and students in acute care, long-term care, outpatient clinic care, and home healthcare. Simulation provides an opportunity to enhance professional competencies, experience specific clinical situations and implement interdisciplinary care.

The renovation and equipping of the Simulation Center was made possible by a $2.5 million U.S. Department of Labor Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) Grant.

The Dr. George Ball Simulation Center is approximately 8,000 square feet including two medical surgical patient rooms, Emergency Room/Intensive Care/Operating Room with ambulance bay, clinic, home care lab, three control rooms, and four debriefing rooms. All five simulation rooms are equipped with Sim View recording systems using cameras and microphones to capture both video and sound. The recordings may be broadcasted to any debriefing room. The simulations and recordings are managed from the control room.

The Dr. George Ball Center is staffed with three full time employees, a simulation center coordinator, simulation specialist, and simulation support staff member.