ThedaCare, located in Neenah, Wisconsin, is set to welcome its first group of residents to a newly established, state-of-the-art simulation lab. This 2,200-square-foot facility is a significant addition to ThedaCare’s Graduate Medical Education (GME) program, aimed at mitigating physician shortages across Wisconsin, particularly in rural and underserved regions.

Addressing Physician Shortages

The ThedaCare Internal Medicine Residency program, which received accreditation last September, will begin training its first residents on July 1. Dr. Chris Stenberg, vice president of graduate medical education and clinical research at ThedaCare, emphasized the lab’s role in preparing future healthcare professionals. “The completion of our simulation lab represents another significant investment in the future of healthcare in our communities through our GME program,” he stated.

The simulation lab is designed to create a shared, immersive learning environment that equips residents and healthcare teams with the necessary skills and confidence to provide exceptional patient care. The facility includes three fully-equipped simulation rooms, a dedicated debrief room, and a centralized control center, all designed to mimic real-world clinical environments found in ThedaCare facilities. The flexible design of these rooms allows for the simulation of a wide range of care settings.

Enhancing Clinical Education

Dr. Stenberg further explained the importance of the simulation space, noting its critical role in preparing healthcare professionals for the complexities of modern care delivery. “Through realistic, hands-on training, residents and team members can practice high-risk, low-frequency clinical scenarios, strengthen clinical judgment, and refine coordinated responses to critical situations — all within a safe and controlled environment,” he added.

The lab will serve not only physicians in training but also nurses and interprofessional care teams. According to data from the Wisconsin Hospital Association, the state will need an additional 2,000-4,000 physicians by 2035. ThedaCare highlights that nearly 55% of individuals who complete residency training tend to practice medicine in the community where they trained, and 70% of physicians remain in the state when they complete both their GME and residency in Wisconsin.

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.