WSU Plans Nation’s First Indigenous Health Simulator in Spokane
Washington State University (WSU) has submitted a remodel permit application to the city of Spokane for a significant health simulation project. This initiative, led by the Center for Native American Health, aims to create the nation’s first indigenous-developed and instructed clinical simulation space. The facility will be located within the Health Education and Research Building at 665 N. Riverpoint Blvd.
The planned simulator will occupy approximately 1,300 square feet and is designed to replicate a real hospital environment. It will include patient-exam rooms, multiple offices, storage areas, and a conference room. The operation will be guided by Indigenous health professionals, providing both Native and non-Native students and clinicians a comprehensive view of healthcare through the lens of traditional healing perspectives.
Reflecting on the project, Naomi Bender, director of WSU Spokane’s Native American Health Sciences program, stated, “Throughout our histories and across the world, it has taken the listening ears, minds and hearts of our allies and friends who wanted to see a more peaceful, kind and equitable world.” This initiative represents a commitment to enhancing healthcare education and promoting equitable health practices.
The estimated cost for the simulator is $560,000, with $250,000 funded by a grant from Bank of America. The remodeling will be undertaken by Graham Construction, a firm based in Calgary, Alberta, while the project design is provided by DLR Group, headquartered in Omaha.
In a related development, officials at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center announced plans for a modernization project for its Heart Institute, which has been operational for over 30 years. According to reports from the Spokesman-Review, a commercial building remodel permit was submitted for the first phase of this project, located on the fifth floor at 62 W. Seventh Ave.
The initial phase focuses on installing a new catheterization laboratory machine, a critical piece of medical equipment that utilizes X-rays and contrast dye to visualize the heart and its blood vessels. Additional improvements include a rooftop air conditioning unit and enhancements to the electrocardiography and blood draw laboratories. The estimated cost of this phase is $4 million, with plans submitted by Glenn Faulkner, project manager for the health provider. The remodeling will be executed by Bouten Construction, a Spokane-based company, and designed by JRJ Architects from Beaverton, Oregon.
In another development, a 0.17-acre lot at 5127 N. Lincoln St. in Spokane may soon be subdivided into four separate properties. This project, referred to as a unit lot subdivision, aligns with the city’s efforts to promote smaller residential developments. The initiative follows an ordinance passed last year that encourages unit lot subdivisions across the city.
The project will provide seven parking spaces and a walking path servicing each of the four lots. Each lot will accommodate a building with a footprint of about 600 square feet. Spokane County property records indicate that the property is owned by Easy Home Buyer, reflecting ongoing trends in local real estate development.
These initiatives underscore a broader commitment to enhancing healthcare education and residential development in Spokane, aiming for a more inclusive and modern community infrastructure.
