TWU opens new medical campus in Dallas

DALLAS - Students tried out their nursing skills on robotic patients Friday as Texas Woman's University held its grand opening for its new health science institute, named for Texas oilman T. Boone Pickens.

The computer-controlled patient simulators can talk, blink and cough and one even gives birth.

The symptoms depend on what the professor directs the simulated patient to do.

"It's kind of like Jurassic Park meets nursing," said Stephanie Woods, associate dean of the TWU College of Nursing.

Students are given scenarios, just as they would when nurses start a shift, and they must figure out what is wrong with the patient and how to treat it.

"The software is able to respond to what the student does," Woods said.

Pickens said he was impressed by what he saw during the tour of the building.

The oilman and entrepreneur donated $5 million in 2006 so that TWU could build the T. Boone Pickens Institute of Health Sciences-Dallas Center, located at 5500 Southwestern Medical Ave. in the Southwestern Medical District.

During the tour, Pickens observed a case that involved a child having an asthma attack.

"Give him a shot of adrenaline," Pickens told the students giving the demonstration.

It was his first time to take a tour of the facility.

"It looks like you could spend a lot of time here," Pickens said. "I love to see the students working."

This type of learning is becoming more standard.

The cost of robot patient simulators is what prohibits most nursing schools from having them, Woods said. The simulators can cost $40,000 to $90,000 apiece.

Students started classes in the eight-story, 190,000-square-foot institute this semester.

"Currently, TWU enrolls at all campuses around 3,000 nursing students, and over 900 study at this campus," Chancellor Ann Stuart said.

During Friday's ceremony, TWU announced a $2 million donation from Florence A. Doswell. In honor of her gift, TWU has named the college the Houston J. and Florence A. Doswell College of Nursing.

The building currently houses TWU's College of Nursing, Stroke Center-Dallas and health systems management program. TWU plans to locate its occupational and physical therapy programs there by January.

The occupational and physical therapy programs are currently located at the university's Presbyterian Campus, adjacent to Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas.

"The building is ready for the students," Stuart said. "The parking lot is not."

TWU is planning on building a 600-space parking garage after it demolishes its old Parkland Campus building this summer.

"We want to get our money's worth, and we certainly got our money's worth," Pickens said.

RACHEL MEHLHAFF can be reached at 940-566-6889. Her e-mail address is rmehlhaff@dentonrc.com.