Laurel Ridge Surgical Technology Program to Receive State-of-the-Art Surgical Simulators

Surgical technology students at Laurel Ridge Community College are set to benefit from cutting-edge training equipment thanks to the efforts of U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine. The senators successfully secured $305,000 in funding to purchase LAPSIM® surgical simulators for the college’s Fauquier and Middletown campuses. This funding was part of a congressionally directed Labor-Health and Human Services-Education spending package.

Surgical technologists play a vital role in the operating room, where their responsibilities include preparing the surgical environment, readying patients for surgery, holding retractors, and cutting sutures. With the introduction of LAPSIM® surgical simulators, students will gain hands-on experience in these crucial tasks.

In 2023 and 2024, surgical technology graduates from Laurel Ridge had the opportunity to participate in mock surgeries, such as appendectomies, hysterectomies, and cholecystectomies (gallbladder removal), using simulators brought to the Fauquier Campus by a representative from Surgical Science for a demonstration in March 2023. This demonstration highlighted the benefits of the LAPSIM® simulators, which provide instant feedback and allow students to experience the surgical environment virtually.

Following the successful demonstration, Laurel Ridge applied for congressional funding to obtain these simulators. The college recently received confirmation that the funding has been approved.

“We’re glad to have helped secure this funding for Laurel Ridge Community College to train future surgical technologists and assistants,” said Senators Warner and Kaine in a joint statement. “This funding is an investment in Laurel Ridge and its students, as well as the greater health and wellbeing of our communities when we are grappling with health care provider shortages.”

Tina Putman, the director of the Surgical Technology program at Laurel Ridge, expressed her excitement about the new equipment. “These new simulators will provide our students with hands-on experience that was previously unavailable, significantly enhancing their training and preparation for real-world surgical environments,” she said.

The addition of the LAPSIM® surgical simulators marks a significant advancement for the Surgical Technology program at Laurel Ridge, offering students state-of-the-art training tools better to prepare them for their roles in the healthcare industry. This development benefits the students and aims to address the ongoing shortage of healthcare providers by ensuring that graduates are well-equipped with the necessary skills and experience.