Butler, SBA Celebrate Opening of New Healthcare Training Facility

Butler Community College and Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital (SBA) celebrated the opening of a new healthcare training facility Thursday, August 6, creating new opportunities for Butler students to gain hands-on experience in a real-world healthcare setting.  

The facility is located in the North Hall on the third floor of SBA, a space which had been empty for several years. Butler now has access to eight furnished patient rooms, along with a conference room, control room and medication room, creating a setting for students to learn and practice in a functioning healthcare environment.

A special Carl Perkins Reserve grant allowed Butler to purchase state-of-the-art mannequins, simulation lab equipment and supplies for the facility, while SBA provided the space and existing hospital resources.

“We have a great opportunity here for students. They will be more confident and capable graduates coming out of these real-world classrooms,” said Butler President Dr. Tamara Daniel. “And there are so many other opportunities we can make happen in the future due to this partnership with SBA.”

The facility will support hands-on training, simulation, job-shadowing, career exploration and workforce training. Initial plans include Allied Health and Fire & EMS course offerings and simulation lab space, with opportunities for additional courses and apprenticeships as healthcare workforce needs evolve.

For Jessica Turner, a 2004 Butler graduate and SBA’s chief nursing officer, the partnership brings her education and career experience together in a meaningful way.

“This is special for me. It's a full circle moment for me,” Turner said. “What’s really exciting is the creation of opportunity and possibility. Health care education doesn't happen in isolation.”

Turner said the updated facility will give students opportunities to practice their skills in a safe environment, while SBA nurses will be able to use the facility for further training.

“Ultimately, it’s about patients and our community. Every lesson provided here means better care for our community,” she said. 

About Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital

Susan B. Allen Memorial Hospital is a not-for-profit, independent general acute care hospital that includes an emergency department, family birth care center, home health agency, cancer center, urgent and immediate care clinics. The hospital is governed by a local board of citizens and is accredited by the Joint Commission. To learn more visit www.sbamh.com.