Hudson Valley Community College’s Cardiorespiratory & Emergency Medicine department hosted the 5th annual Health Science Multidisciplinary Simulation Day at the 400 Jordan Rd facility on April 16. This was a dynamic and collaborative event designed to foster interprofessional education among students enrolled in the college’s health science programs. This event brought together faculty, students, and staff from multiple disciplines including Respiratory Care, Polysomnography, Paramedics, Nursing and Radiologic Technology, to engage in simulated, case-based learning experiences that reflect real-world healthcare scenarios.
The day featured 10 hours of interactive simulations, team-based problem solving, and critical thinking exercises centered around complex patient care situations. Students worked in interprofessional teams to assess, diagnose, plan, and implement care while developing a deeper understanding of each other’s roles and scopes of practice. Faculty members served as facilitators, providing guidance and feedback in both high-fidelity simulation labs and classroom-based discussions. Adjuncts and volunteer students and community members played the role of patients and the event was supported by two Pulmonary & Critical Care physicians from Albany Medical Center as well as an officer from the Schenectady police department. In total over 200 health science students rotated through the simulation day.
Key outcomes of the event included:
- Strengthened communication and collaboration skills among students from different health programs.
- Increased awareness of the importance of interprofessional teamwork in improving patient outcomes.
- Opportunities for faculty to innovate curriculum design and assessment through collaborative education.
The event aligns with Hudson Valley’s commitment to student-centered learning, experiential education, and workforce readiness, ensuring that graduates are well-prepared for the integrated healthcare environment they will enter. Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, with students noting a greater appreciation for interdisciplinary cooperation and communication.
Plans are already underway to expand the event in future years, incorporating more advanced clinical scenarios and inviting external healthcare partners to participate.