President James Spaniolo along with other deans, chancellors, and founding partners participate in the ribbon cutting Friday at the Smart Hospital. Tours of the hospital were held, giving visitors a chance to see the simulation patients and the facility. (The Shorthorn: Fabiola Salinas)

The ceremony began with a variety of speakers and then moved for a ceremonial ribbon cutting in front of the newly opened hospital.

In his speech at the ceremony, President James Spaniolo said that Friday was almost an overwhelming day.

Congressman Joe Barton, founding partners of the hospital, and former dean for the school of nursing at UT-Austin, Billye Brown all attended the opening of the hospital.

Dana Dunn, former university provost, said that there weren’t many nursing students at the event because it was for the officials and founding partners.

“This event is geared more towards the people who made this project possible,” she said.

Some of the key speakers at the event were Spaniolo, School of Nursing Dean Liz Poster and Congressman Joe Barton.

“The Smart Hospital has become a multifaceted place for learning in a unique setting,” she said. “Without UT Arlington administration we wouldn’t be here today.”

Kendra Erskine, School of Nursing senior secretary, said she thinks the Smart Hospital is a great experience for nursing students. She said the “manikins” create a comfortable environment for nursing students to make their mistakes without harm creating less pressure for the students.

The 13,000-square-foot hospital has been in the works since 2004 and will employ more than 25 life-like manikins and 30 paid actors to aid nursing students in their studies. Students will have the opportunity to care for simulated patients without the pressure of truly ill individuals. The manikins include SimMan and SimBaby, and both are able to simulate bleeding, breathing trouble and even death. Some of the manikins are able to simulate childbirth, including contractions. The School of Nursing is one of two colleges in America that use manikins made by the Laerdal Center of Excellence in Simulation.

The Smart Hospital will also incorporate the usage of computer-based studies for nursing students.

Patrick Brillant, Medical Center of Arlington CEO, said the Smart Hospital is an innovative approach to training nursing students.

“Today, it feels like the culmination of the dream that has been four years in the making,” he said.

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