About the Facilities

AHC Simulation and IERC Services Request Form

Clinical Skills Assessment

Event Orientations

Directions to the IERC

Hear How Faculty Use the IERC

Meet the Staff

Policies and Procedures

Scheduling and Use Guidelines

Simulators

Standardized Patient Program


IERC Home

2-241 Phillips-Wangensteen Building
(Mayo Mail Code 261)
516 Delaware St SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455

phone (612) 624-9691
fax (612) 624-9690
e-mail: wollx003@umn.edu

Policies and Procedures

Page Contents

I. Introduction

The Interprofessional Education and Resource Center (IERC) provides facilities and services for the assessment of users’ (students, residents, and health professionals) disciplinary and interprofessional clinical skills and for developing professional competencies. All Academic Health Center (AHC) schools and programs are invited to use the IERC to conduct clinical examinations such as objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) and other clinical assessments, teaching/learning clinical skills, and to offer space for structured student practice in clinical assessment.

The IERC offers faculty the opportunity to prepare students for a professional world under simulated situations before going into practice settings. The IERC houses 18 fully-equipped exam rooms monitored by closed circuit cameras for viewing and video recording in the IERC Media Room. Technology allows faculty and students to video record student practices and evaluation sessions followed by self, peer, and faculty assessment of performance. The IERC as a whole is equipped for both wired and wireless electronic communications and offers access and training in the use of clinical simulators, such as SimMan (a patient simulator) and CathSim (a system to practice vascular catheterization). Exam rooms provide access to standard supplies and equipment found in typical clinical settings. Additional equipment (such as hand-held computers, specialized diagnostic equipment, manikins, etc.) may be brought into or stored in the lab.

The Center is first and foremost for pre-professional students and residents. Exam rooms are reserved for testing and teaching clinical skills, including interviewing and physical examinations. Activities that can be conducted in a classroom and/or which do not test or teach clinical skills should not be scheduled in the IERC.

The concept for an interdisciplinary center grew out of deliberations from the AHC Educational Leadership Forum and an AHC Interdisciplinary Primary Care Task Force. In addition to use for individual educational programs, the vision for future use is to provide a site for teaching students to learn together and of students learning to provide health care as interprofessional teams.

Purpose of These Policies
These policies and guidelines for use have been compiled in order to ensure that the Interprofessional Education and Resource Center is maintained as a professional clinical learning space for student assessment in individual programs and in interprofessional collaborations. Scheduling, maintenance, etiquette, and security of the IERC must be systematically shared among all of its users. Therefore, the policies included here are intended to ensure easy access and an optimum experience for everyone using the IERC.

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II. General Scheduling and Preparation

Room Use
The Media Room and exam rooms are to be used for clinical skills teaching and assessment. They are NOT to be used for small group meetings or class presentations that are not in conjunction with clinical assessment or teaching. Priority will be given to Media Room requests using video observation and recording technology.

Scheduling
Scheduling of the IERC is on a first-come, first-served basis. Beginning in January, the IERC will be accepting room requests for the following academic year. ‘High-stakes’ OSCEs, clinical assessments, and activities utilizing exam room equipment will maintain top priority. However, all such activities must be scheduled no later than August 15 (for fall semester), November 15 (for spring semester), and April 15 (for summer term) to maintain that priority. Priority for scheduling will be given to activities involving students, residents, and continuing education, in that order.

Hours
The IERC is open from 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM Monday – Friday. Scheduling use of the facility at times other than regular operating hours requires two weeks advance notice and is subject to the discretion of the Center Manager. Any use after 6:00 PM requires that users have University identification cards in order to access the site.

Room Request Form
To reserve exam rooms or the Media Room, download and complete an IERC Room, Equipment, Services Request Form and submit it to Anne Woll the Center Manager at least 24 hours in advance of use. Rooms are not reserved until she receives and processes this form. E-mail your request form as an attachment to wollx003@umn.edu or fax the form to (612) 624-9690. You will receive an email confirmation of each reservation. If you have questions, call (612) 624-9691.

Set Up Time
It is essential to include time for set up (i.e., between 15 minutes and 1 hour before use begins) and time for clean-up following the visit (i.e., another 15 minutes to 1 hour of time) in your reservation request. This will ensure that you have sufficient time before and after your visit that will not conflict with other users.

Instructional Technology
Anyone using the IERC’s educational technology as part of their teaching and/or assessment (e.g., closed circuit video observation and recording, all-call microphone, data projector, wireless communication laptops), must complete training on the equipment prior to use. Instructors using the CathSim Vascular Access Simulator and SimMan Universal Simulator must also receive training. Contact Patricia Rizzi the Instructional Technology Coordinator at (612) 624-6166 or rizzi001@umn.edu to arrange a training session.

Technical Support
When completing the IERC Room, Equipment, Services Request Form, be sure to include a request for technical support if you will need assistance on the day of your lab use.

Cancellations
Room reservation cancellations must be made 72 hours prior to the event. Failure to notify the Center Manager within that time frame will result in a late cancellation charge of $10 per room per hour, as well as charges for any contracted services, e.g. standardized patients.

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III. Visiting and Using the Center

Arrival
Upon arrival, go to PWB 2-241 to sign in with Anne Woll the Center Manager who will unlock the rooms you have reserved and ensure that your requested technology is available. Before leaving, stop by PWB 2-241 to sign-out and complete your IERC visit.

Technical Support
If you have requested technical support during your scheduled lab use, Patricia Rizzi the Instructional Technology Coordinator will be present to assist you.

Locker Rooms
Please feel free to use the lockers in the Student Locker Room and Patient Locker Room to store coats or other items that will not be needed during your visit. Twenty-eight lockers are available for student use and 10 for standardized patients. You must bring padlocks to secure the lockers. The IERC is not responsible for lost or stolen items.

Storage Space
To store items used repeatedly in the IERC, faculty members should contact the Center Manager to request storage space.

Universal Precautions
IERC users should follow universal precautions against infectious disease while participating in clinical activities. Universal Precautions Guidelines can be found inside the exam room cabinets.

Please note the following about the IERC

Clean up following use of the IERC
In order to maintain a professional, functional space, all IERC users are expected to complete proper cleanup after their use, as detailed below. The cleaning service provides general vacuuming and garbage removal, but all other cleanup is the responsibility of the user. If you anticipate that your activities may cause physical damage or disorder exceeding your means, please discuss your use with the IERC Manager or Director prior to your use to make other preventive and restorative arrangements.

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IV. Student Use of the Center

The Interprofessional Education and Resource Center is an opportunity for students to practice professional health care skills, behaviors, and attitudes.

Scheduling
Students are encouraged to use the Clinical Skills Lab for clinical practice. To schedule one or more rooms for practice, students should contact Anne Woll the Center Manager at (612) 624-9691 or wollx003@umn.edu or stop by her office at PWB 2-241.

Hours
The IERC is open from 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM Monday – Friday. Scheduling for student practice is subject to the discretion of the Center Manager.

Cancellations
A minimum of 24 hours advance notification is needed for room cancellations. Rooms will be held for 10 minutes after scheduled use time, at which point they may be given to other users.

Technology Training
Students wishing to video record their clinical skills for self-assessment or course assignments, must receive training prior to using the video recording equipment. Contact Patricia Rizzi the Instructional Technology Coordinator at (612) 624-6166 or rizzi001@umn.edu to arrange a training session.

Arrival
When arriving for practice, sign-in at the Center Manager’s office (PWB 2-241) and return to sign out following practice sessions.

Universal Precautions
Follow universal precautions against infectious disease while participating in clinical activities. Universal Precautions Guidelines can be found inside the exam room cabinets.

Professionalism

Clean Up
Clean and straighten the exam room when completing your practice session. Return exam equipment, unused supplies, and furniture to their original location. Put trash in the receptacles and wipe up wet or soiled surfaces. Turn off the lights and close the exam room door.

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V. Technology Training and Support

Audiovisual Technology

Anyone using the IERC’s audiovisual technology (e.g., closed circuit video observation and recording, all-call microphone, data projector, wireless communication laptops) as part of their teaching and/or assessment must complete training on the equipment prior to use. Students wishing to video record their clinical skills for self-assessment or course assignments, must also receive training. Contact Patricia Rizzi the Instructional Technology Coordinator at (612) 624-6166 or rizzi001@umn.edu to arrange a training session.

If you need technical support during your scheduled lab use, please request this service when completing your IERC Room, Equipment, Services Request Form.

Simulator Technology

Instructors using the CathSim Vascular Access Simulator and SimMan Universal Simulator must receive training prior to simulator use. Contact Patricia Rizzi at (612) 624-6166 or rizzi001@umn.edu, to arrange a training session.

If you need technical support during your scheduled simulator use, please request this service when completing your IERC Room, Equipment, Services Request Form.

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VI. Fees and Charges

The Academic Health Center schools will be charged a nominal fee for use of clinical skills facilities starting in FY04. Fees will be determined based on:

Additional fees will be charged for non-AHC student and non-student users, including:

Room reservation cancellations must be made 72 hours prior to the event. Failure to notify the Center Manager within that time frame will result in a late cancellation charge of $10 per room per hour, as well as charges for any contracted services, e.g. standardized patients.

Departments will be assessed for the replacement cost of any equipment damaged, destroyed, or lost during scheduled use.

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VII. Consent and Privacy Authorization

Standardized Patients
All standardized patients must sign a consent and non-disclosure agreement if they agree to be videotaped in the IERC. Recommended authorization forms based on type of use are available on request from the Center Manager.

Students
Students are NOT required to sign a consent and authorization form for videotaping if the videotape or their assessment is to be retained within the department and if it will not be used or disclosed for any other purpose other than the assessment itself.

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VIII. Feedback and Evaluation of Services

In order to provide excellent service to each user of the IERC, we ask that you complete a short evaluation following each use of the lab to provide us with ongoing feedback and ideas for improved service. The Center Manager will email you the evaluation following your assessment activity. Please return it as soon as possible.

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IX. Emergencies

In case of an emergency occurring while in the IERC, please call 911. Phones are located in the Media Room and Student/Patient Lounges. Notify the Center Manager or attendant immediately.

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