The University of Chicago

The proposed 25,092-sf phased renovation will consolidate simulation and training facilities for the University of Chicago Medical School and provide continuing medical education (CME) for nurses, doctors and staff at local hospitals in a state-of-the-art shared Simulation Center.

Many of the simulation spaces are designed to be flexible to support work with task trainers, low, mid and high-fidelity manikins for a variety of disciples and simulation event settings. Dedicated spaces are designed to support surgical and robotic training devices, such as the DeVinci Robot, Heartworks TEE/TTE Echocardiography Simulator, Immersive Touch Surgical Virtual Reality Trainers, Vimedix Ultrasound and Mentice VIST-Lab Endovascular Systems, which require specific environments and controls. All spaces will be equipped with audio visual and data capture equipment, to allow feedback to users in debriefing spaces.

The simulated hospital, built within a working hospital, will replicate an actual clinical environment and foster inter-professional training. The design also will support in situ and standardized patient simulation. Maker, virtual reality and human factors testing spaces are planned to foster innovation, research and community outreach.

HERA also provided Lean analyses, which allowed the University to group like functions in ‘neighborhoods,’ diagram distinct circulation paths, lessen congestion, improve efficiency and reduce latent errors. A capacity analysis was developed to study existing utilization and forecast available capacity for future events. The information was used to illustrate the facility’s capacity to provide external revenue by providing CME training to local hospitals and industry partners.