Simulation Program

Simulation is a generic term that refers to an artificial representation of a real-world process to achieve educational goals through experiential learning. Simulation-based education is defined as an educational activity that utilizes simulation technology to replicate real life clinical scenarios. Simulation for health professional education is being utilized more frequently and has routinely been used in other high-risk professions such as aviation and shipping industries. Health professional simulation allows for more efficient acquisition of clinical skills through deliberate practice, in addition to the more traditional apprentice style of learning. With simulation tools as an alternate to a real patient, a trainee can make mistakes and learn from them without the risk or fear of patient harm. Health professional simulation research reveals significant advantages including improved patient safety, quality of care, improved team performance and reduction of health care costs.

The simulated scenarios and manikins are highly realistic and engage the learners emotionally and intellectually, thus providing a unique learning experience wherein the “patient” actually talks, breathes, blinks, and moves similar to a real human patient. Simulation can be adapted to replicate any health care environment, such as an operating room, emergency department, or intensive care unit; and to accommodate any health care professional, including physicians, nurses, paramedics, and respiratory therapists.

Health professional training programs have to ensure that the learners are exposed to a variety of learning opportunities to obtain the vital knowledge and skills necessary to provide excellent and safe care. Clinical competencies including but not limited to: communication, teamwork, gathering a history, professionalism, ethical considerations, physical examination, procedural skills, diagnostic reasoning, resuscitation skills, critical thinking and decision making, simple to complex problem solving, organization and prioritization, and information technology skills are all components of the simulation-based education curriculum at the Children’s Wisconsin.

Advantages of Simulation Learning

• Health care simulation has four primary purposes—education, assessment, research, and health system integration with the goal of facilitating and promoting patient safety. Simulation education is a bridge between classroom learning and real-life clinical experiences. Advantages of simulation learning include:
  • Hands-on and critical thinking skill development including knowledge-in-action, procedures, decision-making, and effective communication.
  • Critical teamwork behaviors, such as managing a high workload and coordinating under stress, can be taught and practiced.
  • Allows for a safe learning environment with freedom to make mistakes and to learn from them without risk of harm to a real person.
  • By seeing the outcome of their mistakes, learners gain powerful insight into the consequences of their actions and the need to get it right.
  • Learning experiences can be customized to accommodate a range of learners from novices to experts.
  • Opportunity for detailed feedback and evaluation by training facilitators.

Who uses the Simulation Program space?

• Health care and allied health professionals who care for children.
• Patients and families

• Simulation Lab Dashboard | January-May 2022 (PDF)
• Simulation Lab Dashboard | September-December 2021 (PDF)

We do simulation training at the Children’s Wisconsin Dairy Cares Simulation Lab.

Learn More on Children's Connect

Simulation Scenario Template

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What’s happening in the Simulation Program?

•  Have you published or presented in simulation? Email us at simulationprogram@chw.org to be featured on our website

Other Resources

• International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL)
• INACSL Standards of Best Practice
• Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH)
• International Pediatric Simulation Society (IPSSW)
• Scenario Resources © Center for Medical Simulation
  • MedEdPortal | Site of American Association for Medical Colleges (AAMC) |The premier site for simulation scenarios that are peer reviewed
  • Simulation in Healthcare: Journal of the Society for Simulation in Healthcare that has periodic publication of peer-reviewed scenarios
  • Harvard Medical School Simulation Case Book (last updated 2012)

Currently under construction, more information to come!

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