By Lincoln G. Peters
The University of Liberia College of Health Sciences (ULCHS), in partnership with the USAID-funded BRIDE-U: Liberia project on Thursday, 23 June 2022, officially launched the Experiential Learning and Assessment Lab (ELAB) at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital in Sinkor.
ELAB is aimed at improving inter-professional, lifelong learning, and high-fidelity training for clinical healthcare workers across the country.
The ELAB-CTI’S clinical simulation education program trains clinicians to competently and confidently provide patient care through the use of lifelike manikins and other training tools to mimic different clinical scenarios.
The ELAB facilities at both JFK Medical Center and UL’S Capitol Hill campus allow learners to practice both basic procedural skills (IV INSERTION, Catheterization) as well as complex decision-making communication and networking.
At the same time, the ELAB tailored scenarios will train care providers in evidence-based best practices and allow them to rehearse new standards of care, elevating their practice based on relevant research findings and new development in clinical practice.
The ELAB will train all cadres of clinical healthcare workers, doctors nurses, midwives, physician assistants, pharmacists and others who contribute to patient care and the learner will not only practice cadre-specific skills but also, participate in inter-professional simulation scenarios, mimicking the reality of team composition in the hospital or clinic.
In special remarks, Dr. Jerry Brown, Chief Executive Officer of JFK Medical Center said the hospital is very excited to form part of this history-making process.
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He extended thanks and appreciation to the Government of Liberia and its partners for the great initiative.
According to Dr. Brown, there were many who never had the opportunity to have this in their medical school.
He said it is another opportunity for students and health care providers, urging them to take advantage of it.
“We are urging everyone in here to see how best we can work together and sustain this project because sustainability means a lot to this project,” he said.
Also remarking, the Project Director of BRIDGE-U: Liberia, Ms. Chelsea Plyler, said the project is the effort of many different partners and this is a starting point for enhancing knowledge.
She said Liberia’s Ministry of Health played an important role in the implementation of the project.
For his part, Dr. Isaac T. R. Dolor, ELAB Coordinator, ULCHS, said “we have to have modern knowledge and attitude” in the field.
he said if you have the knowledge and skills, but lack competence, you will not practice the skills.
He urged that health providers should work to improve patient care and also improve their skills before renewing their licenses.
