PHOENIX, (April 18, 2008) – The Banner Health board of directors today approved the creation of a 202,000-square-foot office center on the campus of the former Banner Mesa Medical Center in Mesa, Arizona. Today there are about 100 Banner employees in the nine-story tower and other buildings on the campus. Additional Banner employees will move into the tower and other buildings as areas and floors are remodeled, and it is anticipated that this process will be completed in 2010 to accommodate more than 1,000 employees.
A signature program to be housed on nearly the entire first floor of the tower is a simulation education center, which is believed to be the largest single site simulation education center in the country. The center, which is part of the multiple-site Banner Simulation System, is expected to open in March 2009. It will utilize an array of computerized mannequins and surgical simulators in full-size simulated health care environments. It is anticipated that most Banner Health caregivers will participate in courses provided by the Banner Simulation System. Trainers simulate patient care scenarios and procedures in a safe environment to constantly improve clinical skills and teamwork among physicians, nurses and allied health professionals.
“Patient safety and quality patient care are the driving forces in establishing the simulation center,” says Susan Edwards, Banner Health Arizona Region pPresident. “Research has shown that this type of simulation skill training dramatically improves quality of care.”
Included in the center are fully equipped patient care areas that simulate care scenarios in Emergency, Surgical, Critical Care, Obstetric and Medical environments; computer driven, life-sized mannequins with real anatomy, physiology and pharmacology; procedural simulators to practice high-risk skills; and virtual reality devices to help physicians learn the latest techniques and refresh skills.
Another major structure to be constructed on the campus is a primary data center that will accommodate the rapidly growing information technology needs of Banner Health. This is necessary as Banner continues implementation of its Care Transformation initiative, which improves quality of care and patient safety through the integration of an electronic medical record and best practices in care delivery.