NCH Simulation Center Earns International Accreditation for Excellence in Education

The Judith & Marvin Herb Family Simulation Center at Naples Comprehensive Health (NCH) has been granted full accreditation in the areas of Teaching/Education and Core Standards by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH) and the Council for Accreditation of
Healthcare Simulation Programs. The Herb Family Simulation Center was already named among the top 35 simulation centers in the United States by Becker’s Hospital Review, and this recognition now places it among an elite group of fewer than 300 simulation centers worldwide to achieve this distinction -considered the gold standard in the field.

The Herb Family Simulation Center, located on the NCH Baker Hospital Downtown campus, features more than 12,000 square feet of training and meeting space, including two fully functional operating rooms, multiple simulation suites, a procedural skills lab, and classrooms equipped with advanced audiovisual, debriefing technology, and an Immersive Interactive (mixed reality) room.

“We are immensely proud and grateful to receive this recognition,” said Douglas Harrington, DO (Featured Photo), Penny and Bill Allyn Endowed Chair in Simulation Medicine and Medical Director of the NCH Judith & Marvin Herb Family Simulation Center. “This accreditation is a meaningful validation of the hard work of our simulation team – we remain committed to advancing education, patient safety, and clinical excellence throughout Southwest Florida.”

Each year, the center provides thousands of hours of hands-on, multidisciplinary education to physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, emergency personnel, foundations, students, and community partners.

“Our trainees can better develop their critical thinking, teamwork, communication, and clinical skills in this safe learning environment,” said Madeline Deutsch, MD, Core Faculty, Academic Hospitalist. “Being an educator in the center has shown me how valuable our unique, highly advanced technology enables me to be a better teacher through the use of our interactive mannequins and simulation tools.”

The Herb Family Simulation Center enhances NCH’s mission to deliver exceptional care and improve health outcomes through evidence-based education, research, and collaboration. Its programs simulate real-world clinical situations, empowering healthcare teams to refine their skills and improve performance in a safe, realistic environment.

“I am incredibly proud of this designation,” said Hope Goodwin, MSN, Director of Operations, Judith and Marvin Herb Family Simulation Center at NCH. “This achievement reflects the dedication, expertise, and teamwork of our entire simulation team, from our talented educators, leaders, to our support staff who ensure every detail runs seamlessly. Their hard work has made this possible”

The Herb Family Simulation Center is fully funded thanks to the generous philanthropic support of our community. This achievement underscores what’s possible when our region comes together to invest in advanced, innovative healthcare education and training. The community’s commitment to philanthropy not only made the center a reality, but also helps NCH continue to earn international recognition, such as this one from SSH.

For more information about the Judith & Marvin Herb Family Simulation Center, visit nchmd.org/education/judith-and-marvin-herb-family-simulation-center

ABOUT NCH

NCH (Naples Comprehensive Health) is an Advanced Community Healthcare System™ serving Southwest Florida with premier routine, critical, and specialty care. NCH, a locally governed non-profit, is recognized as one of Healthgrades America’s Top 50 Hospitals which puts it in the top 1% in the nation for clinical excellence, in addition to being named a Top 50 Hospital for Surgical Care. The system is more than just two hospitals (referred to as the NCH Baker Hospital and NCH North Hospital) with a total of 713 beds – NCH is an alliance of over 750 physicians and medical facilities in dozens of locations throughout Southwest Florida and is the region’s only Joint Commission accredited Comprehensive Stroke Center. NCH cardiac care is ranked top three in the state by Healthgrades. NCH collaborates with the Hospital for Special Surgery for orthopedics, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital for pediatrics, and ProScan Imaging for radiology services, ensuring top-tier medical care is available in Southwest Florida. With the largest provider network, urgent/ immediate care centers, diagnostic facilities, and two hospitals, NCH is always advancing the quality of care near you. For more information, visit www.NCHmd.org