The Virtual Hospital of the Catholic University of Valencia is a university centre of excellence in advanced clinical simulation, which is designed as a real hospital on a smaller scale with almost 2,000 m2 and equipped with the latest technology, with the main objective of offering practice in a safe place, where students and professionals train their technical and non-technical skills.
Designed for the practical training of Health Science students, it is an innovative infrastructure that faithfully reproduces a real hospital environment, allowing practical, immersive and safe teaching. It has spaces that accurately replicate hospital units such as emergency rooms, ICUs, operating theatres, outpatient clinics and hospital wards. It is equipped with high-fidelity simulation technology, recording and observation systems, and clinical analysis software.
We have our own multidisciplinary team, which combines the vocational exercise of research and teaching at undergraduate, graduate, postgraduate and continuous training for professionals and companies, with the professional and clinical practice in the different areas in which they work , always with an eminently practical and supportive approach.
We train more than 2,000 undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate students each year and bring a realistic, fresh and innovative vision to healthcare education.
It is strategically located in Burjassot, with easy access by metro and bus from the centre of Valencia. The building is fully accessible for people with reduced mobility and has parking facilities nearby.
For researchers, it offers a controlled environment to study clinical decision-making, patient safety and the effectiveness of new training methodologies; it is an ideal environment for health education research projects.
Main functions and objectives of the department
- The main objectives of the Virtual Hospital are:
- To train students in Health Sciences through clinical simulation.
- To reinforce patient safety and clinical decision-making.
- To develop technical and non-technical skills.
- To offer continuous training to healthcare professionals.
- To promote research in medical teaching and simulation.
- To work on decision-making and self-confidence.
- To improve healthcare processes.
Services provided
- Advanced clinical simulation: practice with high-fidelity mannequins in realistic settings
- Technical training: access to operating theatres, ICU, and simulated emergency wards
- Soft skills development: communication, leadership and teamwork sessions
- Continuing education: specialised workshops and clinical refresher courses
- OSCE assessments: structured clinical competency tests for students
- Ad-hoc courses: we design simulation scenarios and tailor-made learning experiences
- Organisation of scientific events
- Space rental
Facilities
Emergency Simulation Area
Triage, medical consultation, emergency observation room, hospitalisation room and vitals.
In this area, the care journey of a patient in an emergency environment is precisely reproduced. From the triage area and medical consultation, to emergency observation rooms, hospitalisation and the critical care area, students follow the complete clinical flow, facing scenarios that require critical thinking, time management and interpersonal skills. All of this is supervised and guided by expert clinical simulation teachers.
Clinical skills laboratory
Five panelled laboratories plus the general debriefing room. Six spaces in total that can be easily adapted to the needs of the moment.
The laboratories are multi-purpose classrooms equipped with the necessary furniture and material for clinical skills practice. Simple and complex technical skills training is carried out in these rooms depending on the learning objectives.
High Fidelity Simulation Area
Equipped with simulated operating theatres, intensive care units (adult and paediatric), dilatation and neonatology rooms, these areas allow highly realistic clinical scenarios to be run with state-of-the-art robotic mannequins.
Each unit has dedicated work, observation and control areas, from where the activity is monitored and recorded for later analysis through professional debriefing sessions. Students practice in critical situations under simulated conditions of maximum pressure, strengthening their decision-making and collaborative skills.
- Debriefing area
- Work area
- Control room
While the clinical training is being carried out on simulated patients or robotic mannequins, a small group of participants observes and follows the clinical scenario live. In addition, the patient is monitored from the control area and the physiological state of the patient is controlled by recording the session for later feedback.
The adult and paediatric ICUs not only replicate real hospital architecture, but are equipped with the same technology and instruments that you would find in any current intensive care unit. Here, students train with highly complex medical and surgical scenarios, facing critical situations with total realism, but in a safe and supervised environment.
In the general surgery and obstetrics operating theatres, the experience is just as immersive: from emergency surgery to the arrival of a newborn - whether full-term or premature - everything is set up for students to experience the clinical experience at its best. Scenarios include anaesthesia, surgical instrumentation and immediate neonatal care, with real thermal cots and incubators.
Simulation support areas range from meeting rooms to storage rooms and a maintenance workshop.
Support and Technical Services Area
The Virtual Hospital also has auxiliary spaces such as meeting rooms, clinical storage rooms, technical maintenance workshop and observation rooms, allowing for a comprehensive, fluid and professional training experience.