Kaskaskia College recently received a competitive Illinois Board of Higher Education Nursing School Grant to improve the educational experience for future nurses throughout the region. KC was one of just 13 recipients selected throughout Illinois. The college used the funds to purchase state-of-the-art software that will help prepare nurses for real-world patients and situations.
KC Dean of Health Sciences Lisa Ring said an integral part of being a nurse is understanding how to work electronic health records (EHRs), like MyChart by Epic, which include information on medications and are used as a communication tool in the medical field. The recent grant KC received allowed the college to purchase Lyceum by Epic, the training version of the EHR program.
“An EPIC representative told me we were the first two-year degree program to sign up for Lyceum, and that some schools are training physicians with it,” Ring said. “In our area, 95% of healthcare systems use Epic, including SSM, HSHS and BJC, so it’s vital students learn on this software. There are a lot of EHR products out there, but they lack that realistic environment you get in a clinical setting. Being able to practice is crucial, and Lyceum really mimics the real-world EHR. This is a great opportunity to improve our students’ documentation abilities and their understanding of the software.”
Kaskaskia College also used grant money to pay for every student’s usage of Lyceum in the first year it is available at KC.
In the prior award year, KC also received the Nursing School Grant to purchase an Anatomage electronic 3D model cadaver. This human-sized computer allows students to study and practice on a simulated cadaver, teaching students important skills without having to worry about the deterioration of a real cadaver.
“The Anatomage table is a life-sized representation of the human body, featuring multiple 3D anatomical images,” Ring said. “Students can look at the many layers of the body and examine skin, muscle, bone, and much more, with unlimited usage. The grants we’ve received have truly helped enhance our students’ education and continue to help them learn real-world skills that benefit their careers and the patients they will one day serve.”
