Elmhurst University: New $30M Health Sciences Building & Clinic

Elmhurst University Opens $30 Million Health Sciences Building, Pioneering Immersive Healthcare Education

A new era of healthcare education has begun at Elmhurst University with the opening of its state-of-the-art Health Sciences Building on October 3rd. The $30 million facility is designed to foster collaboration and provide students with hands-on experience using cutting-edge technology, ultimately benefiting both aspiring medical professionals and the wider community.

addressing a Critical Need for Expanded Healthcare Training

The 45,000-square-foot building consolidates the Departments of Nursing, Public Health, occupational Therapy, and Communication Sciences and Disorders under one roof. According to a senior university official, “The institution needed it, the community needed it.” This centralization is intended to break down traditional silos and encourage interprofessional practice and education – a collaborative approach to healthcare that is increasingly valued in the field.

The project was funded entirely through existing resources, including philanthropic gifts, grants, and reserve funds. This demonstrates a strong commitment from the university and its supporters to expanding healthcare education opportunities.

Did you know? – The Health Sciences Building was funded entirely through existing university resources, showcasing a strong commitment to healthcare education.

A hub for Growing Health Professions Programs

The new building will accommodate a significant student population. The Nursing Department currently serves 436 students, while the Communication Sciences and Disorders program has 166 students and the Master of Occupational Therapy program boasts 54 students. The increased space allows for specialized learning environments and expanded community outreach.

“It is allowing our various health professions across campus to come together into one space,” the official explained. This collaborative environment is already proving transformative. “Bringing all of the departments under the same roof has been ‘transformational and game-changing for us,'” said a department chair. “Our faculties now collaborate every day.”

Pro tip: – Interprofessional practice and education, emphasized in the new building, is a highly valued approach in modern healthcare, fostering collaboration between different medical fields.

Enhanced Facilities and Community Engagement

the Health Sciences Building features several key improvements designed to enhance the learning experience and expand services to the local community. These include:

• An expanded Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic with more treatment rooms, a larger waiting room, and dedicated parking. This allows the university to treat more clients, including school-aged children.
• A unique Activities of Daily Living lab – a fully-equipped apartment complete with a bathroom,kitchen,and living space – where occupational therapy students can simulate real-life scenarios with clients.
• Dedicated laboratory spaces equipped with both low-fidelity and high-fidelity mannequins for realistic training.
• A commitment to offering free evaluations to community members by second-year master’s degree students, providing valuable insights into improving daily living activities.

Reader question: – How does the new building benefit the local community? – The expanded Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic and free evaluations offered by students provide valuable healthcare services to residents.

Pioneering Virtual Reality in Healthcare Simulation

Elmhurst University is leading the way in healthcare education with the introduction of a 360-degree immersive virtual reality room – the only one of its kind in the Midwest. This innovative technology allows students to experience patient rooms and various medical conditions before encountering them in a real-world clinical setting.

“This room is going to allow our students to experience patient rooms, patient conditions before they’re stepping into a situation in a hospital with real patients,” a university spokesperson stated. The immersive experience is expected to significantly benefit both students and, ultimately, their future patients.

The university’s overarching goal is to create a hands-on learning environment that accurately reflects the complexities of a real-world clinical setting. As one educator put it, “The bottom line is that we want to have a hands-on learning environment – one that mirrors the complexity of the demands of a real-world clinical setting.” The new Health Sciences Building at Elmhurst University is poised to do just that, shaping the next generation of healthcare professionals and serving as a vital resource for the community.