Lab Made Possible Through Matching Funds – Representing the three entities providing matching funds for a Patient Simulation Lab in the Nursing Program at Barton County Community College are (left to right) Chris Thomas, Central Kansas Medical Center CEO, and Mark Mingenback, president and executive director of the CKMC Foundation; Lavonne Gerritzen, associate dean of Barton’s Career and Technical Education, Linda Gobin, director of Barton’s Nursing Program, and Dr. Gillian Gabelmann, Barton’s vice president of instruction and student services; Darnell Holopirek, executive director of Institutional Advancement at Barton, and Sharon Mauler and Angie Fry, who serve on the BCCC Foundation Board of Directors. CKMC, the BCCC Foundation and the college itself each provided one-third of the funds to match a Kansas Board of Regents grant to purchase the Patient Simulation Lab for the Nursing Program.

August 21, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Story by: Linda Dueser Three Agencies Combine Thirds to Match KBOR Grant for Patient Simulation Lab Barton County Community College’s Nursing Program expects to increase its ability to enhance the supply of registered nurses in this area when it puts into place a new Patient Simulation Lab this fall. Funding for this extensive lab has been provided through a $75,271 grant from the Kansas Board of Regents plus one-third matches in funding each from Central Kansas Medical Center, the BCCC Foundation and the college. Barton Nursing Director Linda Gobin said she expects the Patient Simulation Lab equipment to arrive within four to six weeks and it will become operational as soon as it is assembled and placed in its lab environments.

The lab includes computerized patient simulators including an adult and baby, a birthing simulator, and one adult and one pediatric computer module for IV training. She said a room also will be adapted to replicate a birthing room for the birthing simulator. The Patient Simulation Lab will help increase the number of nurses in this community in three ways, Gobin pointed out.

First, the lab will reduce student travel by 20 percent or more. Less travel will result in an increase in teaching and clinical time, lower the financial burden of students who must pay travel costs, and ultimately, lead to higher graduation and pass rates for students due to the increased clinical practice.

Second, the program anticipates that the Patient Simulation Lab will increase the number and quality of applicants who are accepted into the program; thus increasing the retention and graduation rates of registered nurses. The lab facilities will serve as an excellent recruitment tool as well as a teaching lab.

Third, the simulation lab will help retain nurses in the field by providing opportunities to current nurses and other health care providers who plan to enter nurses training. These professionals can access continuing education to learn the newest and most effective skills, and participate in hands-on learning and practice.

Central Kansas Medical Center CEO Chris Thomas was quick to offer a one-third match from the hospital because he saw the benefits of the lab. “We have so many of our nurses coming from Barton,” he said. “Hopefully, many of our new nurses will be able to continue to develop their capabilities through continuing education using the simulation lab.”

The BCCC Foundation also came out strong in its support through a one-third match for the lab. “This is one of the purposes of the foundation – to be able to help the college when it needs it,” said Darnell Holopirek, executive director of Institutional Advancement at Barton. “The foundation board was unanimous in its decision to provide funding for the lab because it will benefit both the college and the community.”

The Nursing Program will host an open house as soon as the Patient Simulation Lab is assembled, Gobin added. “We want the community to see what we have to offer our nursing students and area health care professionals,” she said.

CKMC also wants to let the community know what the new lab will mean to the health care industry. “Anything we can do to help continue a nursing school is going to help us,” Thomas said. “We’re extremely pleased with Barton’s nursing program and proud to be a part of that program.”