Thanks to a partnership with Ozarks Tech, the city of Lebanon and the Lebanon R-3 School District, a cutting-edge medical simulation lab is coming to the Robert W. Plaster Center for Student Success in Lebanon.
Studies conducted as part of the Lebanon 2040 Comprehensive Plan revealed that Laclede County faces a shortage of primary care physicians, dentists and mental health providers compared to state and national averages. This new medical simulation lab will help address the region’s growing need for health care providers by creating local access to essential hands-on training opportunities for students and professionals. Medical simulation continues to be a critical tool for improving health care and this partnership demonstrates a commitment to positively impacting patient outcomes through quality training and education.
As part of this partnership agreement, the city will construct the lab in 3,500 square feet of the Robert W. Plaster Center for Student Success, which is owned by Lebanon R-3 Schools. Once complete, the Center of Excellence for Medical Simulation at Ozarks Tech will oversee operations, including scheduling and performing the various styles of simulations needed by local health care providers.
“Medical simulation is a critical tool for improving health care outcomes in our communities. Our team has worked very hard to be a pilar of that for our local communities, and we are beyond excited to expand that footprint to Lebanon. Return on investment for a project like this means more positive patient outcomes, it means saving more lives,” said Whitney Grieshaber, Center of Excellence for Medical Simulation director at Ozarks Tech.
The new medical simulation lab will mirror the existing labs at the Ozarks Tech Table Rock Campus and in Lincoln Hall at the Springfield Campus. These labs conduct more than 8,000 simulations annually. The Lebanon facility will have four large simulation rooms, two control rooms and two conference rooms, as well as state-of-the-art equipment and high-fidelity simulators.
The simulation lab will also serve as a hub for emergency response training for area EMTs, paramedics, fire departments and law enforcement agencies to foster improved coordination among first responders.
“This collaborative effort really encourages medical professionals to stay and train locally. Students will gain early exposure to medical careers, while Mercy, CoxHealth, Lake Regional and Jordan Valley will use the facility for onboarding, certifications and continuing education,” said Dusty Childress, Ozarks Tech president for Education Centers. “It will be a transformative resource for medical education, professional development and health care workforce retention in Lebanon and beyond.”
The medical simulation lab is expected to be complete in the fall of 2025 with a grand opening planned in September.