The Shadow
ROANOKE COUNTY, VA (VR) – LewisGale Regional Health System, part of HCA Virginia, today celebrated the opening of a new clinical simulation center in Roanoke County where nurses and care teams can practice real-life patient care situations in a safe, hands-on training environment.
Hospital and community leaders gathered for a ribbon cutting at the HCA Healthcare Center for Clinical Advancement, located in Metis Plaza at 1819 Electric Road. The 5,700-square-foot center gives nurses access to realistic patient rooms, lifelike training mannequins and dedicated spaces to practice clinical skills, review their training and learn as a team.
The new facility represents a $2.4 million investment in nurses, care teams and the future of patient care. Nurses from LewisGale Medical Center, LewisGale Hospital Montgomery, LewisGale Hospital Pulaski and LewisGale Hospital Alleghany and other HCA Virginia practices will be able to access advanced simulation training within a relatively short driving distance, bringing this hands-on clinical learning closer to the teams who care for patients across the region.
“This is more than a classroom. It is a place where nurses and interdisciplinary teams can safely practice complex patient care scenarios, strengthen teamwork and build confidence before caring for patients in real-life situations,” said Erin Keister, HCA Healthcare Capital Division Chief Nursing Executive. “The HCA Healthcare Center for Clinical Advancement reflects our commitment to investing in nurses through professional development, clinical excellence and leadership growth, while giving our teams the resources they need to continue delivering exceptional, compassionate care.
The center includes seven dedicated learning environments, including classrooms, simulation labs, skills bays and debriefing rooms. The layout allows multiple education sessions and simulation experiences to take place at the same time, increasing access to clinical training for 900 HCA Healthcare nurses and clinicians across the regional system.
The facility features advanced simulation technology, dedicated recording capabilities for simulation review and debriefing and specialized task trainers that allow teams to practice specific clinical skills in a realistic environment. Simulation training helps care teams rehearse high-risk, low-frequency events, improve communication across disciplines, strengthen clinical judgment, and enhance teamwork.
The center will support education for new graduate nurses, experienced nurses, graduate medical education learners and interdisciplinary care teams across LewisGale Regional Health System. As only the second HCA Healthcare Center for Clinical Advancement in Virginia, the center reflects HCA Healthcare’s long-term commitment to supporting nurses, care teams and the communities they serve. The center also supports HCA Healthcare’s Nurse Forward strategy, reinforcing the organization’s investment in nurses through professional development, clinical excellence and leadership growth.
