Logan University’s Simulation Center offers students a unique learning opportunity and is a multi-purpose resource for clinical simulation, testing and self-study. Students in both the College of Chiropractic and College of Health Sciences can use the Simulation Center to fine-tune their clinical skills, learn more about anatomy and practice patient interaction.
Melissa Engelson, DC, DHPE (’19), MS (’12), CSCS, DACBSP®, TSAC-F, director of assessment and clinical simulation at Logan University, leads the center and brings her expertise in working with a wide range of patients, abilities and ages. Dr. Engelson received a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science from Southwest State University in Minnesota; a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) degree from Northwestern Health Sciences University in Minnesota; and a Master of Science in Sports Science and Rehabilitation (MS-SSR) degree and Doctor of Education in Health Professions Education (DHPE) – now Doctor of Education in Health Professions Education (Ed.D) – degree from Logan University. She explains the exceptional opportunities students can take advantage of right on campus.
“Students can come to the Simulation Center and use our world-class anatomage tables, which provide access to 3D interaction with real human cadavers, offering the chance to practice dissections and view the human body down to the smallest details of nerves, muscles, blood vessels, and lymphatic system,” she said. “Students can actually see the limbs as they move to gain a complete understanding of muscle movement and biomechanics, which really connects the dots of what they are learning.”
The Simulation Center also has force-sensing tables that offer real-time feedback. This helps students improve their adjusting skills and motor patterns to improve patient care. Additionally, students can use the X-ray room which offers practice opportunities for machine setup and parameter setting, preparing students for clinical rotations.
For DC students, the Simulation Center offers the opportunity to prepare themselves to treat patients at the clinic by simulating a clinical experience with real people. With a roster of standardized patients, who present a set list of agreed-upon ailments, students can practice patient care from history to exam to patient education and consent. The standardized patients are part-time Logan employees who act as real patients, memorizing and acting out a case study, so students can role play.
“This exercise allows students to get into the doctor mindset and teaches them the importance of listening to the patient and taking down all of their medical history and performing an exam in determining the best course of care,” said Dr. Engelson. “These interactions are also on video, allowing students to assess themselves, as well as share with instructors for feedback.”