Project Grant CE147080

COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING/CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING - CONSTRUCTION - SHEPHERD CENTER, INC. LOCATED IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA, IS A 152-BED PRIVATE, NOT-FOR-PROFIT HOSPITAL SPECIALIZING IN MEDICAL TREATMENT, RESEARCH, AND REHABILITATION FOR PEOPLE WITH SPINAL CORD INJURY, BRAIN INJURY, STROKE, MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, AND OTHER NEUROMUSCULAR CONDITIONS. SHEPHERD CENTER IS THE LARGEST SPECIALIZED REHABILITATION HOSPITAL FOR THIS UNIQUE PATIENT POPULATION IN THE NATION AND PATIENTS TRAVEL FROM ACROSS THE NATION TO SHEPHERD CENTER FOR ITS INNOVATIVE BRAND OF NEUROREHABILITATION. ROUGHLY 70% OF OUR PATIENTS ARE INJURED DUE TO TRAUMA AND THEY PRESENT TO US WITH MULTIPLE INJURIES. THE COVID PANDEMIC HAS DIMINISHED THE ABILITY OF NURSING PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE ONSITE CLINICAL PRACTICUMS THUS OPPORTUNITIES FOR CLINICAL EXPERIENCES ARE NOT READILY AVAILABLE. ORIENTATION OF A NEW GRADUATE NURSE IS LESS COMPREHENSIVE RESULTING IN A FEWER SKILLS AND DIMINISHED CONFIDENCE. ANOTHER CHALLENGE IS PREPARING CLINICIANS FOR EMERGENCIES SUCH AS CARDIAC ARREST THAT MAY LEAD TO PROFOUNDLY NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES FOR PATIENTS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOSS OF LIFE. FORTUNATELY, MANY OF THESE EVENTS ARE RARE. HOWEVER, BECAUSE THEY ARE RARE, HOSPITAL STAFF INCLUDING PHYSICIANS, NURSES AND RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS HAVE LITTLE CHANCE TO PRACTICE THE SKILLS NEEDED IN THESE EMERGENCIES. SIMULATION LABS ARE THE BEST ALTERNATIVE TO HANDS ON EXPERIENCE AND ESSENTIAL TO CLINICIANS' TRAINING. SHEPHERD CENTER'S CLINICAL STAFF REQUIRE SPECIALIZED TRAINING FOR OUR DIVERSE POPULATION. SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSING LIFE THREATING SITUATIONS ONLY SEEN IN A SPINAL CORD OR BRAIN INJURED POPULATION. MOST OF THIS TRAINING IS TYPICALLY NOT OFFERED THROUGH TRADITIONAL ACADEMIC PROGRAMS SO CLINICAL STAFF HAVE NEVER EVEN BEEN EXPOSED TO MANY SKILLS. ACCESS TO A MANNEQUIN THAT CAN SIMULATE THESE EMERGENCIES WILL GIVE OUR STAFF PRACTICE IN SKILLS ESSENTIAL TO ADDRESSING THESE CONDITIONS. SHEPHERD CENTER IS REQUESTING FUNDS TO PURCHASE 2 SOPHISTICATED MEDICAL MANNEQUINS. THESE MANN EQUINS WILL BE ADDED TO SHEPHERD CENTER'S SIMULATION LAB AND WILL BE USED TO TRAIN PHYSICIANS, NURSING AND THERAPY STAFF AT SHEPHERD AS WELL AS PROVIDE COMMUNITY TRAINING.