University of New England

History in the Making

Building on strong programs in nursing and dental hygiene, the establishment of the College of Health Professions (CHP), and the restoration of much of the Westbrook College Campus, we are ready to write the next chapter in this history by creating a one-of-a-kind program in clinical healthcare education and training. 

Simulated Patient
Care Training

Goddard Hall, 1880s

Westbrook College, 1937, Anatomy & Physiology Class

A New Hampshire National Guard unit  running combat scenarios in the UNE Simulation Lab.

One of the primary functions of the PEEC will be to provide students with simulated hands-on patient care training. In the past, healthcare providers learned how to give someone an I.V., intubate someone’s airway, restore someone’s heartbeat – in the only way possible – “learn one, see one, do one.” PEEC’s patient simulators will add another step – where the student can actually “do one” on a lifelike “patient.”

In addition to student training, the extended healthcare community will also benefit from the PEEC - practicing professionals from regional and community groups such as the National Guard will be able to evaluate and refine their clinical skills there on a regular basis. The University is already partnering with Maine Medical Center to develop programing for students and practitioners.

With medical mistakes costing 100,000 lives per year, according to the Institute of Medicine, the ability to obtain this hands-on realistic learning experience could have a great impact on the lives of the patients our students and other users will be caring for.

That's why programs such as UNE's dental patient simulation training initiative, sponsored by Delta Dental, are so important. This program uses patient simulators to significantly elevate dental care and education in our region to an unprecedented level.