Grande Ronde Hospital Earns National Recognition for Nursing Simulation Program

Grande Ronde Hospital & Clinics in La Grande earned a spot on Becker's Hospital Review's national "Simulation and Education Programs to Know" list for 2026, the hospital announced March 19, recognition that traces back to a single nurse resident's research project and a virtual reality headset introduced less than a year ago.

The program centers on UbiSim, a virtual reality simulation platform GRH launched in June 2025 to train nurses on high-stakes clinical scenarios without the space, budget and staffing constraints that routinely limit rural hospitals. Since going live, five nurses have completed more than 58 VR simulation sessions, working through emergencies including diabetic ketoacidosis management, postoperative pain and obstetric preeclampsia, according to Becker's Hospital Review.

The initiative did not start with administration. It originated from an evidence-based project led by a nurse resident who systematically compared simulation technologies and landed on UbiSim for its realism, cost-effectiveness and adaptability. That bottom-up origin, from a resident nurse making a methodical case for a specific platform, sets the program apart as an example of workforce-driven innovation at a 25-bed critical access hospital.

The Becker's recognition arrives roughly eight months after the program's launch and follows a separate national nod for the hospital's leadership: in February 2026, GRH announced that President and CEO Jeremy Davis had been named to Becker's 2025 "Critical Access Hospital Presidents and CEOs to Know" list, making him the only hospital CEO from Oregon on that roster. "This recognition reflects the incredible work being done across our entire organization," Davis said at the time.

GRH Board of Trustees Chair Sam Kimball added that Davis's focus on workforce investment and regional access had "helped position GRH as a trusted healthcare resource for Northeast Oregon. At a time when rural hospitals face significant challenges, this national recognition speaks not only to Jeremy's leadership, but to the dedication of the entire GRH team."

Grande Ronde Hospital is an independent, locally governed, not-for-profit institution. Its service area covers Union County and the broader Eastern Oregon region, where patients face long drives to reach specialty care. The hospital's stated mission: "Quality health care is our mission. Patients are our passion."

Becker's Healthcare, which publishes the simulation and education list, notes that inclusion cannot be purchased and that its editorial team curates entries based on nominations highlighting exceptional contributions to healthcare access and education.