Simulation-Based Team Training

Abstract

As many errors made in healthcare are due to human factors, training must target these issues in order to improve the quality of care provided. Interprofessional team training has been in existence in several areas of healthcare for many years, including pediatrics. Simulation-based training is the ideal teaching modality to employ for team training, especially for acute care teams (resuscitation teams, operating room teams, etc.). There is much to carefully consider when establishing a simulation-based team training program, including decisions to be made around the purpose of such training, who the participants are, and how to set up the simulated clinical environment. Published research has consistently demonstrated that teams that participate in simulation-based team training improve their knowledge, skills, and behaviors related to teamwork concepts. There are several high-quality assessment tools available that can be used to objectively evaluate teamwork behaviors in the simulated clinical environment. Future research should aim to provide more objective evidence demonstrating that team training in the simulated environment has a positive impact on patient outcomes in the real clinical environment.