Cape Fear Valley Health has received a $410,000 grant from The Duke Endowment to support the development of a new Immersion Room within its Simulation Center, enhancing hands-on training for clinical teams and supporting continued workforce growth.
The Endowment grant, distributed over three years, will be used to build the Immersion Room and expand staffing needed to support the growing demands of residency programs and the region’s new medical school.
The Immersion Room will offer a highly realistic training environment where clinical teams, support staff and leaders can practice real-world scenarios in a safe, controlled setting. Through advanced visual, auditory and environmental elements, the space will mirror the complexity of actual patient care situations. Training scenarios may include emergency department and intensive care cases, ambulance transport, disaster response and even home care settings.
This immersive approach will allow staff to strengthen critical thinking, improve decision-making under pressure and enhance teamwork across disciplines. It also provides a safe space to practice rare or high-risk situations without impacting patient care.
“This investment allows us to take simulation training to the next level,” said Mark Rose, director of Workforce Development at Cape Fear Valley Health, in a press release. “The Immersion Room will give our teams the opportunity to sharpen their skills, improve decision-making under pressure and strengthen teamwork, all of which directly benefits the patients and communities we serve.”
The project supports Cape Fear Valley Health’s ongoing commitment to workforce development by helping recruit, train and retain highly skilled healthcare professionals to meet the evolving needs of the region.
Based in Charlotte and established in 1924 by industrialist and philanthropist James B. Duke, The Duke Endowment is a private foundation that strengthens communities in North Carolina and South Carolina by nurturing children, promoting health, educating minds and enriching spirits.