Using simulation-based training to improve patient safety: what does it take?

• Published in: Joint Commission journal on quality and patient safety Vol. 31; no. 7; p. 363
• Main Authors: Salas, Eduardo, Wilson, Katherine A, Burke, C Shawn, Priest, Heather A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands 01.07.2005
• Subjects: Guidelines as Topic; Health Personnel - education; Humans; Inservice Training - methods; Medical Errors - prevention & control; Patient Simulation; Safety Management; United States; United States
• ISSN: 1553-7250
• DOI: 10.1016/S1553-7250(05)31049-X

Through simulations health care workers can learn by practicing skills taught and experiencing mistakes before interacting with an actual patient. A number of areas within the health care industry are currently using simulation-based training to help individuals and teams improve patient safety. WHAT IS SIMULATION-BASED TRAINING? The key components of simulation-based training are as follows: performance history/skill inventory, tasks/competencies, training objectives, events/exercises, measures/metrics, performance diagnosis, and feedback and debrief. WHAT DOES IT TAKE FOR SIMULATION-BASED TRAINING TO BE EFFECTIVE? To be effective, simulation-based training must be implemented appropriately. The guidelines are as follows: understand the training needs and requirements; instructional features, such as performance measurement and feedback, must be embedded within the simulation; craft scenarios based on guidance from the learning outcomes; create opportunities for assessing and diagnosing individual and/or team performance within the simulation; guide the learning; focus on cognitive/psychological simulation fidelity; form a mutual partnership between subject matter experts and learning experts; and ensure that the training program worked. The health care community can gain significantly from using simulation-based training to reduce errors and improve patient safety when it is designed and delivered appropriately.