For more information, contact Stephanie Ely, (937) 775-3232. November 02, 2009 Wright State Nursing Institute partners to create "Living Laboratory" home A high-tech home that will serve as an educational facility for nurses and other healthcare providers as well as students will open in November at Bethany Village in Centerville, as part of a new collaboration between Graceworks Lutheran Services and the Nursing Institute of West Central Ohio (NIWCO). This will be the first time a family of simulated models, monitored remotely by faculty through robots, will occupy a “Living Laboratory” for nursing instruction at a senior living community. The two-story house at Bethany Village, owned and operated by Graceworks Lutheran Services, will be renovated as a "Living Laboratory" for innovation, education, research and practice. A number of different disciplines including nursing, engineering, computer science, medicine, aging services, architecture and construction will collaborate in testing technology and devices to promote self-directed care and independence in the home. Modeling an intergenerational home environment, the house will feature a family of human patient simulators that represent people with different ages and health conditions. In addition, a remote-presence robot will allow medical and other professionals, including nursing faculty in remote locations, to interact with and instruct students and family members in the home. "Graceworks is totally dedicated to the aging population, persons with disabilities and the community at large. Graceworks has been in the business for 63 years serving persons in Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky," said Debi Sampsel, M.S.N., R.N., executive director of the Nursing Institute. "This collaboration adds new depth to our resources on the continuum of care, expanding both our breadth of understanding and our geographical reach. As we look at the use of technology in practical settings, the partnership with Graceworks increases our opportunities for research in a variety of locations." As the newest member of the Nursing Institute Sustainability Board, Graceworks Lutheran Services will share its expertise in serving aging adults and persons with disabilities. Graceworks will be represented on the board, which also includes representatives of Wright State University, Premier Health Partners and Sinclair Community College. These organizations support the Nursing Institute’s ongoing operational programs, continuing education offerings and research. "We're excited about working in innovative ways with the Nursing Institute to give nursing and other healthcare students experience caring for older adults," said the Rev. James Bosse, vice-president, Community and Organizational Care for Graceworks Lutheran Services. “We are creating a setting for advancing technology, knowledge and practice to support people living in their homes. By housing this unique laboratory here, we will learn of innovations that could be applied in homes at Bethany Village and in the greater community." Bethany Village was developed on farmland that was purchased 63 years ago. Although the original farm houses are now gone, a replica of one of the homes remains on the property and has been used over the years to accommodate guests and as a marketing office. The house will now be transformed into a "Living Laboratory." "We are looking forward to this replica of the original house serving as an alternative clinical setting for our baccalaureate, master's, and Doctorate of Nursing Practice students," stated Patricia Martin, Ph.D., R.N., dean of the Wright State University–Miami Valley College of Nursing and Health. Our nursing students will have an opportunity to work alongside other healthcare and engineering students, as well as engineering students." Through the support of retired Congressman David Hobson, state legislators Jon Husted, Chris Widener and former representative Kevin Dewine, as well as Bob Mills of Synergy Building Systems, funding for the "Living Laboratory" equipment was granted by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration, and the state of Ohio through the Board of Regents. About Bethany Village and Graceworks Lutheran Services Bethany Village, sponsored by Graceworks Lutheran Services, sits on a 100-acre campus on Far Hills Avenue (St. Rt. 48) in Centerville and is the largest among the Graceworks residential communities. The nationally accredited continuing care retirement community offers villa, cottage and apartment homes, as well as assisted living, memory-supportive care, and short- and long-term nursing care. Incorporated since 1926, Graceworks Lutheran Services offers residential and personal services in more than 50 locations throughout southwest Ohio, southeast Indiana and northern Kentucky. Its programs include senior living, credit counseling, case management and emergency services, affordable housing for persons who are aging or have disabilities, senior companion program, and housing and care for individuals with developmental disabilities. About the Nursing Institute of West Central Ohio The Nursing Institute is a collaboration between healthcare providers, programs of nursing, businesses, public health nursing, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Medical Center and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The Mission of the Nursing Institute is to optimize regional healthcare and serve as a catalyst for evidenced-based nursing practice, research and education. Headquartered at Wright State, the Nursing Institute was created to address the nursing shortage in west central Ohio and includes these initiatives: · Creative and innovative solutions that address the aging workforce through exploring technological ways to extend the presence of seasoned nurses; · Developing collaborative initiatives between the military and civilian operations; · Development of a nurse-physician collaborative education model that incorporates other healthcare disciplines; · Reengineering nurse work environments; · Creating a nationally recognized center for nursing excellence; · Advocating and promoting the nursing profession; · Working with the business community and other partners to position West Central Ohio as a highly advanced nursing employment opportunity. Serving 22 counties in west central Ohio, the Nursing Institute focuses on research and evaluation, nursing education and professional practice. It has compiled data that shows the region’s nursing workforce is aging two years ahead of national trends. By 2010, 47 percent of licensed R.N.’s will be over age 50. In 2007 Wright State University, Sinclair Community College and Premier Health Partners announced a three-year partnership and commitment of $1.3 million to further the programs and research of the Nursing Institute. For more information, contact Karen Strider-Iiames at (937) 775-3219 or karen.strider-iiames@wright.edu or Karen Kuhn at (937) 436-6897 or kkuhn@graceworks.org. # # #
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