When stepping into healthcare simulation, new instructors often find themselves overwhelmed, undereducated, and inexperienced in creating and running effective simulation-based education training programs. These instructors are often tasked with the creation of their own curriculum, development of engaging scenarios, and the assessment of the simulated event’s effectiveness. Without expert guidance, this is a daunting task for any novice. To support the continual education and development of simulation instructors, the Winter Institute for Simulation, Education, and Research (WISER) partnered with the Gordon Center for Simulation and Innovation in Medical Education to create Improving Simulation Instructional Methods (iSIM). Running at WISER’s main campus in Pittsburgh, PA, from September 11-12, 2024, iSIM is a two-day hands-on introductory program that initiates beginner simulationists into the vast world of healthcare simulation. This HealthySimulation.com article will provide an overview of the medical simulation course and what to expect.
iSIM Supports Curriculum Integration and Scenario Design
“ISIM provides the basic foundations of what someone would need to design, test, run, and debrief a simulation scenario, all in two days,” says WISER’s Director of Operations, Tom Dongilli. As a simulation center fully accredited by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH) and with 30 years of experience in the field, WISER utilizes iSIM to teach tried-and-true best practices regarding simulation-based education. To support new educators incorporating simulation-based learning, iSIM breaks down the scenario design and implementation process step-by-step. From the beginning stages of curriculum design to the final stages of debriefing, this course ensures participants can create and run effective scenarios from start to finish.
At the start of this program, participants learn how to utilize curriculum to support their simulation instruction.
This includes instruction on how to identify learning objectives and how to identify the proper technology to use to achieve those objectives. Participants also learn to consider the reason for the scenario, whether for teaching or testing purposes, and how the accompanying curriculum and assessment may change depending on the level of the learner.
Working with the Certified Healthcare Simulation Operations Specialists (CHSOS) at WISER, participants take what they learn about curriculum integration and apply the lessons learned directly to the scenario design process. By breaking down the process of what makes up a successful simulation session, participants come away with a strong understanding of all the moving parts that encompass a simulated event. During the course, participants learn how to identify equipment needs, incorporate different simulation modalities, and develop accurate timelines while always considering the learning objectives. Throughout iSIM, groups of participants collaborate to create their own scenarios in tandem with the didactic content, providing a continuous cycle of learning and direct application to ensure competency in scenario
View the LEARN CE/CME Platform Webinar Making Clinical Simulation Assessable: The Intersection of Scenario Design and Assessment to learn more!
Pilot Your Scenario with iSIM
After going through the scenario design process, participants of iSIM will work together to pilot the scenarios they’ve created. This exercise allows participants to experience their simulation in action, while reflecting on how they can improve the scenario for real-life applications. Not only does this pilot provide a facsimile of what a real simulation scenario entails, the pilot also helps participants build confidence and comfortability navigating the implementation of simulation.
iSIM Teaches Best Practices for Debriefing
Following the pilot run through, participants of iSIM learn how to apply the Gather, Analyze, Summarize (GAS) Method of Debriefing to reflect on their experiences as participants in the scenarios. The GAS model, developed by a team led by Senior Associate Director, John O’Donnell, is one of the most effective methods to debrief a simulation scenario and has been adopted by the American Heart Association. The iSIM course teaches participants to first gather feedback from their learners to create a narrative surrounding the events that transpired.
The next step of the GAS model centers on the learner’s reflection and analysis of their behaviors and actions during the session. The final step prompts instructors to summarize the learning objectives and review the lessons learned during the simulation event. When learners gather conclusions and key takeaways from a scenario, they can authentically reflect on their performance and rethink how they will respond in the future. Participants of iSIM then go through a meta-debriefing process, in which they discuss their experience utilizing the GAS model and the application of this model during future simulation sessions.
For those unsure if iSIM is the right course for them, Tom Dongilli advises, “If you are not comfortable designing simulations for multiple modalities, if you’re not comfortable facilitating a simulation session, if you’re not comfortable creating assessments for a simulation session, if you’re not comfortable debriefing a simulation session, this is a great course to get you comfortable doing that.”
Created solely to support instructors new to simulation, iSIM is the only two-day program that provides all the necessary foundational knowledge needed to run a successful simulation. This course gives participants an invaluable experience in that the skills gained, knowledge acquired, and lessons learned bolster competency and ability to successfully create, run, and debrief simulation-based healthcare education programs. All iSIM courses offered by WISER are approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s).
Contact WISER for More Information and to Register for iSIM
For more information about iSIM please email WISER directly. To register for the upcoming September 11-12, 2024, iSIM course, please follow the link below. The Winter Institute for Simulation, Education, and Research (WISER) is a state-of-the-art simulation training and research facility that serves both the University of Pittsburgh and UPMC.
As a vital resource to the health system, WISER is dedicated to advancing healthcare simulation and education. In support of this mission, WISER offers several professional development opportunities including iSIM, TechSim, and the SSH Accredited Fellowship and Visiting Scholars Program. These programs are a testament to WISER’s mission to educate the future generations of simulationists and healthcare educators interested in simulation-based education programs.
