Belmont’s Health Sciences Simulation Program Earns Full Accreditation

A nursing student works along a simulator on Belmont's' campus.

The University’s program is the first in the state to earn the designation

Belmont University’s Simulation Program recently received full accreditation in the Teaching/Education Area from the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSIH) and the Council for Accreditation of Healthcare Simulation Programs. The status was granted for a five year period and is valid through December 2022.

The University’s robust Simulation Program exists to improve patient safety and health outcomes by providing high quality, evidence-based, experiential education in a safe innovative environment. With many labs offering a variety of experiences, students in many programs throughout the College of Health Sciences and Nursing (CSHN) have the opportunity to participate in a simulation during their time on campus.

In its report, the SSHC noted many program strengths including:

  • Strong integration of student support in paid positions
  • Tremendous faculty support of the program
  • Continued expansion of faculty and staff skills
  • A recognition of simulation value from learners
  • Significant support from upper administration regarding the Simulation Program and its merits

Additionally, the Simulation Program’s material recycling program was acknowledged as one of Belmont’s best practices, and a recommendation that other programs adopt the initiative was mentioned. This innovative program saves the University more than $40,000 per year.

Director of the Simulation Program and Assistant Professor Dr. Beth Hallmark said students in the College will have many meaningful opportunities to participate in simulation, beginning as soon as their first semester. “Simulation is a safe place to participate in patient care,” Hallmark said. “It enhances patient safety and improves patient outcomes by increasing confidence and improving clinical reasoning. We also are able to expose our student to interprofessional training.”

Belmont’s Simulation Program is the first in the state to receive accreditation.

Dean of the College of Health Sciences and Nursing Dr. Cathy Taylor said, “Reflecting years of dedicated work, this achievement is truly a shining achievement for nursing and health sciences at Belmont.  I’m so proud of our Simulation team and excited for the benefits it will offer future students and faculty.”

Pharmacy Students Attend, Present at Pharmacists Midyear Clinical Meeting

Students who attended the Pharmacy event pose for a photo together.A group of 25 Belmont College of Pharmacy students attended the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists Midyear Clinical Meeting this month. This is the largest gathering of pharmacists and longest running clinical meeting in the world. Former First Lady Michelle Obama was the Keynote Speaker.

The conference serves to update pharmacists and pharmacy students on their knowledge, provide networking opportunities and offer information about the latest products and innovations. Additionally, students can attend the Residency Showcase to meet with representatives from hundreds of pharmacy residency programs around the country.

Belmont hosted a reception for students, alumni, faculty, and friends of the college. Additionally, seven posters submitted by Belmont students were accepted and presented at the meeting including:

  • Enhancement of in situ gel in glaucoma medications (Amy Li)
  • Evaluation of pump association and smart pump compliance rates at an academic medical center (Carli Smith)
  • Evaluation of a fixed-dose opiate detoxification protocol (Keri Putulowski)
  • Updated GOLD guidelines and our COPD patients: Are we meeting the gold standard for treatment? (Brittany Collins)
  • Factors that impact treatment completion of teriparatide (Emily Singleton)
  • Changes to Antiretroviral Therapy regimens in co-infected Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Hepatitis C Virus patients (Andrew Douglas)
  • Antimicrobial Stewardship: Finding Effective Methods to Educate Belmont University Undergraduates (Kevin Nofi)