Kate Ellis, Research and Quality Coordinator at Loch Lomond Villa, explains the use of mannequins in the UNB Long-Term Care Research Simulation Lab. It's located in Loch Lomond Villa. (Photo by Tamara Steele)
A simulation research lab is officially open thanks to a partnership between the University of New Brunswick and Loch Lomond Villa which recreates the long-term care setting.
Dr. Rose McCloskey, nursing and health sciences professor, said the environment is set up with equipment including mannequins that serve as patients.
“The lab is designed to mimic a typical double resident room in a long-term care facility along with the shared washrooms, tub spaces and hallways,” McCloskey said, ” and this is a space where we are going to be able to conduct research. It’s equipped with technology so it will allow us to control the environment and to really monitor and track data,”.
Dr. Rose McCloskey said they hope the worst of COVID-19 is behind us noting the pandemic highlighted some vulnerabilities in the long-term care system.
“What this lab will allow us to do is to learn more about what happened, why it happened and what we can do differently in the future. It will allow us to create evidence-based strategies for healthcare,” McCloskey said.
Dr. McCloskey said she hopes the lab can be used by industry to develop and test new products, for family risk assessments and for training front-line staff.
The project came together quickly with the provincial government and its research foundations jumping on board immediately.
UNB’s vice-president of research, Dr. David MaGee, said in many cases they had barely asked for help when people were already saying “yes”.
A research simulation lab has opened at Loch Lomond Villa in a partnership with UNB. The lab mimics a long-term care setting with the aim of learning from COVID-19 and more. pic.twitter.com/Xye1Yhsysj
— Tamara Steele (@tamarasteele1) July 5, 2021
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