New medical simulation lab in Lebanon, Mo., hopes to attract more doctors

LEBANON, Mo. (KY3) - The city of Lebanon conducted a study on medical providers as part of its 2040 comprehensive plan. It found a shortage of medical staff, and one reason was the lack of nearby training facilities.

Now, the city has solved this problem and helped out the next generation. A partnership between the city, the Lebanon School District, Ozarks Tech, CoxHealth, Mercy, Jordan Valley, and Lake Regional brought a medical simulation lab to the Robert W. Plaster Center for Student Success.

“As a community, we have to work together,” said Nathan Wilkerson, the Lebanon School District’s Director for Career Education. “We can’t all be doing our own things. There are many great things happening throughout Lebanon, but together we’ll be able to provide a much better resource to our community and region, especially in career education. We see this across all job sectors, with trades as well. So how do we continue to serve our community? The best way to do that is to work with them and right alongside them as we continue to serve and prepare students for what’s tomorrow.”

The lab offers the ability to practice on lifelike robots that can talk, bleed, and run through multiple conditions. It’s decked out with state-of-the-art equipment that you find in any real medical setting as well.

For those who are still figuring out whether this is a career path they want to pursue, it’s even more important.

“They’re really able to think through, ‘is this for me or not?’” Wilkerson said. “Sometimes the not is just as much of a success as those who realize this is what they want to do with their life. They start really working through that explore, discover, and pursue framework that we have as a district, so it really sets us apart as an option for school choice for kids.”

And while it will be incredibly useful for high school and college students to figure out what they want to do, its uses stretch far beyond that.

“We’re really looking forward to the future of being able to train medical providers and first responders,” Mayor Jared Carr said. “The whole gamut of things that serve the community and being able to train those providers right here in Lebanon and then hopefully keep and retain them.”

While the final finishing touches are put on the lab, construction is underway right next door, nearly 10,000 square feet of classroom space to offer an even stronger learning environment.

“Our students and staff are so excited to see a simulation,” said Holly Schrage, the Assistant Superintendent of Quality Learning and Experiences for the school district. “They are already learning content already around these topics, so can you imagine a student who wants to be an OBGYN to be able to watch a live delivery through this simulation? They are really excited to be able to see real-world learning in action through these medical professionals.”

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