Instruction at the STAR Center takes place within the realistic environment of our simulated hospital. It includes a nurses’ station, specialized care rooms, a conference room, an ambulance simulator, and an apartment.
The Main Lab is the heart of the simulated hospital that opened in 2007 through a generous grant from the Highmark Foundation and donations to the West Penn Hospital Foundation. The nurses’ station and fully equipped patient care bays house sophisticated, lifelike manikins that can be programmed to simulate a variety of health conditions.
Our Simulation Ambulance is a permanent structure at the STAR Center. You climb up into it just like a real ambulance. It’s equipped with all of the items you would need as an emergency medical services provider.
This room is identical to a real critical care unit. It includes the right tools and equipment for hosting code and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training.
In our Surgical Suite, we replicate the setting of an actual surgery and the entire surgical experience including pre-op, surgery, and post-op. We switch out the surgical tools according to the procedure being practiced.
The Galaxy Wing simulates an entire hospital wing and outpatient clinic to reflect the patient/family experience from admission to discharge. It features several patient and exam rooms where we simulate a typical day for physicians, medical students, nurses, or other hospital staff.
This multipurpose, 5,000-square space allows for a variety of simulation activities. It includes:
Perfect for obstetrics and gynecology physicians, residents, nurses and students who want to practice procedures and skills on Birthing Noelle and SimNewB manikins.
In our simulated NICU, STAR Center instructors teach neonatal resuscitation skills on the premature baby manikin, Rudy. Designed to look like a nursery with a rocking chair and cuddly toys, the room can also be used to teach healthy newborn care.