University of Miami Simulation Hospital Hits Construction Milestone

CORAL GABLES, Fla. — On Dec. 16, the University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies in Coral Gables celebrated the topping out of its new Simulation Hospital. The $18 million facility was designed to replicate a variety of settings including a functioning clinic, hospital and home environment, and will span 41,000 square feet across five stories.

Built by Moss & Associates, headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and designed by MGE Architects of Coral Gables, the state-of-the-art Simulation Hospital is intended to serve as the region’s foremost center for simulation immersion, according to the project’s website. It will improve the safety of future patients by helping practitioners increase their care-related competence, and to practice and demonstrate leadership skills. Meanwhile, it will allow faculty members to evaluate and optimize teaching methods and/or conduct research.

The University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies Simulation Hospital will help practitioners increase their knowledge and skills.
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Moss & Associates

Nilda Peragallo Montano, dean and professor of the School of Nursing and Health Studies, said in a statement that the Simulation Hospital will enable the university to revolutionize 21st century health care “The demand for highly educated, culturally informed health care professionals continues to grow, and the School of Nursing and Health Studies is answering the call,” she added.

School leaders and design team members aimed both to reproduce a fully functioning hospital and also to capture the true flow of a hospital. Given that medical errors and patient safety breaches are often the result of miscommunication that occurs when transferring patients from one unit or nurse to another, wings and units will mimic real-life paths, according to the project website.

The first floor will feature an emergency department wing with six ER bays equipped to replicate cardiac arrest, trauma and mass casualty situations as well as standard patient exam rooms. A tech-ready, 300-seat auditorium on the second floor will host conferences, seminars and courses, while the third floor will be devoted to birthing suits, neonatal and pediatric intensive care units, and operating rooms. An apartment/hospice care unit, medical-surgical unit and an intensive care unit will be located on the fourth floor, and floor five will contain the Helene Fuld Skills Resource Center, which will encompass three practice labs.

“Moss is excited to contribute to the advancement of healthcare education in Miami,” said Scott Desharnais, executive vice president of Moss & Associates, in a statement. “This cutting-edge concept will greatly influence the future of nursing in our community and throughout the nation.”

Construction crews broke ground on the project in November 2015 and are aiming for a July 2017 completion.