The University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) plans to open its $39.7 million Center for Healthcare Improvement and Patient Simulation (CHIPS) on May 11.

The 45,000-square-foot, facility at 26 South Dunlap is dedicated to education, research, and professional development of enhanced clinical skills using standardized patients (actors trained to portray patients), high-fidelity patient simulators (manikins costing from $15,000 to $220,000), and virtual reality technology. According to university officials the building, which has been under construction since 2015, is the only one of its kind in Tennessee and one of only a handful in the country built for and totally dedicated to simulation training.

The center will allow students from the six colleges at UTHSC - Dentistry, Graduate Health Sciences, Health Professions, Nursing, Medicine, and Pharmacy - to train together in simulation settings to develop their skills in delivering team-based health care, which is the proven model for the highest-quality care today.

Each floor of the three-story building is dedicated to a different aspect of simulation training. The first floor includes bed-skill stations that will allow students to focus on preclinical skills and assessments. A virtual reality room allows students to practice simulated endoscopies, ultrasound procedures, and robotic surgeries. There is also a simulated home environment, where students can practice delivering in-home patient care.