Simulation Fellowship Research Articles

Fellowship Accreditation: Experiences From Health Care Simulation Experts.

Background The field of health care simulation continues to grow, accompanied by a proliferation of fellowship programs, leading to fellowship accreditation efforts. There is controversy around the best approach to accreditation. Objective The authors sought to understand perspectives of simulation leaders on fellowship accreditation to best inform the growth and maturation of fellowship accreditation. Methods In 2020, simulation leaders identified through snowball sampling were invited to participate in a qualitative study. During one-on-one semistructured interviews, participants were asked about experiences as simulation leaders and their perspective on the purpose and impact of accreditation. The interviews were audio recorded and transcribed. Thematic analysis informed by a phenomenology framework was performed using a masked open coding technique with iterative refinement. The resulting codes were organized into themes and subthemes. Results A total of 45 simulation experts participated in interviews ranging from 25 to 67 minutes. Participants described discord and lack of consensus regarding simulation fellowship accreditation, which included a spectrum of opinions ranging from readiness for accreditation pathways to concern and avoidance. Participants also highlighted how context drove the perception of accreditation value for programs and individuals, including access to resources and capital. Finally, potential impacts from accreditation included standardization of training programs, workforce concerns, and implications for professional societies. Conclusions Simulation leaders underscored how the value of accreditation is dependent on context. Additional subthemes included reputation and resource variability, balancing standardization with flexibility and innovation, and implications for professional societies.

Maximizing opportunities during a simulation fellowship

Simulation fellowships are 1- to 2-year posts during which intensive training and experience occur. Making the most of opportunities presented during this short time is essential. This paper describes methods for maximizing such opportunities based on the collective experience of previous simulation fellows and supervising faculty. These are organized within four categories: (1) expectations and feedback (clarify the fellowship objectives, have an organized approach, work effectively with your supervisor, ask for feedback), (2) simulation activities (learn how to design simulation activities, learn how to develop simulation activities, curate a collection of resources), (3) scholarship (get involved in research, present and publish projects, undertake a qualification, network and collaborate) and (4) professional development (develop your professional identity, maintain clinical skills, continue the simulation journey). These tips may aid the professional development of simulation fellows and assist mentors in providing support to fellows.

Impact of the PEARLS Healthcare Debriefing cognitive aid on facilitator cognitive load, workload, and debriefing quality: a pilot study

BackgroundThe Promoting Excellence and Reflective Learning in Simulation (PEARLS) Healthcare Debriefing Tool is a cognitive aid designed to deploy debriefing in a structured way. The tool has the potential to increase the facilitator’s ability to acquire debriefing skills, by breaking down the complexity of debriefing and thereby improving the quality of a novice facilitator’s debrief. In this pilot study, we aimed to evaluate the impact of the tool on facilitators’ cognitive load, workload, and debriefing quality.MethodsFourteen fellows from the New York City Health + Hospitals Simulation Fellowship, novice to the PEARLS Healthcare Debriefing Tool, were randomized to two groups of 7. The intervention group was equipped with the cognitive aid while the control group did not use the tool. Both groups had undergone an 8-h debriefing course. The two groups performed debriefings of 3 videoed simulated events and rated the cognitive load and workload of their experience using the Paas-Merriënboer scale and the raw National Aeronautics and Space Administration task load index (NASA-TLX), respectively. The debriefing performances were then rated using the Debriefing Assessment for Simulation in Healthcare (DASH) for debriefing quality. Measures of cognitive load were measured as Paas-Merriënboer scale and compared using Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. Measures of workload and debriefing quality were analyzed using mixed-effect linear regression models.ResultsThose who used the tool had significantly lower median scores in cognitive load in 2 out of the 3 debriefings (median score with tool vs no tool: scenario A 6 vs 6, p=0.1331; scenario B: 5 vs 6, p=0.043; and scenario C: 5 vs 7, p=0.031). No difference was detected in the tool effectiveness in decreasing composite score of workload demands (mean difference in average NASA-TLX −4.5, 95%CI −16.5 to 7.0, p=0.456) or improving composite scores of debriefing qualities (mean difference in DASH 2.4, 95%CI −3.4 to 8.1, p=0.436).ConclusionsThe PEARLS Healthcare Debriefing Tool may serve as an educational adjunct for debriefing skill acquisition. The use of a debriefing cognitive aid may decrease the cognitive load of debriefing but did not suggest an impact on the workload or quality of debriefing in novice debriefers. Further research is recommended to study the efficacy of the cognitive aid beyond this pilot; however, the design of this research may serve as a model for future exploration of the quality of debriefing.

Development of a simulation technical competence curriculum for medical simulation fellows

Background and needsMedical educators with simulation fellowship training have a unique skill set. Simulation fellowship graduates have the ability to handle basic and common troubleshooting issues with simulation software, hardware, and equipment setup. Outside of formal training programs such as this, simulation skills are inconsistently taught and organically learned. This is important to address because there are high expectations of medical educators who complete simulation fellowships. To fill the gap, we offer one way of teaching and assessing simulation technical skills within a fellowship curriculum and reflect on lessons learned throughout the process. This report describes the instructional designs, implementation, and program evaluation of an educational intervention: a simulation technology curriculum for simulation fellows.Curriculum designThe current iteration of the simulation technical skill curriculum was introduced in 2018 and took approximately 8 months to develop under the guidance of expert simulation technology specialists, simulation fellowship-trained faculty, and simulation center administrators. Kern’s six steps to curriculum development was used as the guiding conceptual framework. The curriculum was categorized into four domains, which emerged from the outcome of a qualitative needs assessment. Instructional sessions occurred on 5 days spanning a 2-week block. The final session concluded with summative testing.Program evaluationFellows were administered summative objective structured exams at three stations. The performance was rated by instructors using station-specific checklists. Scores approached 100% accuracy/completion for all stations.ConclusionsThe development of an evidence-based educational intervention, a simulation technical skill curriculum, was highly regarded by participants and demonstrated effective training of the simulation fellows. This curriculum serves as a template for other simulationists to implement formal training in simulation technical skills.

Thoracic surgery in France.

Until recently, thoracic surgery in France was associated with vascular or cardiac surgery. It is now increasingly performed as a specific activity. Training of a thoracic surgeon has a common part with cardiovascular surgery during a 6-year curriculum including theory and practical practice acquired both by simulation and clinical fellowship. There are 343 board-certified surgeons performing thoracic surgery in 147 authorized centers. To be authorized to perform thoracic surgery, these centers must have at least 2 qualified surgeons and perform a minimum of 40 procedures per year for thoracic cancer. The discussion of the cases in a multidisciplinary tumor board (MDTB), validated by a written conclusion, is also mandatory and is a prerequisite for operating on patient for any cancer. All thoracic surgery procedures are recorded in a national database, Epithor. This database gives a precise idea not only of the activity but also of operative data, morbidity, mortality and follow-up. In 2023, participation to Epithor database will be a prerequisite for the certification of thoracic surgeons. Major changes in diagnostic and therapeutic options, development and innovations in video-assisted and robotically-assisted surgery, forthcoming transbronchial approaches will more likely lead to reorganize thoracic surgery with specialized and expert multidisciplinary boards as well as a concentration in high volume centers.

Developing Consensus on Simulation Fellowship Requirements on the Path to Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education Accreditation.

Nonaccredited simulation fellowships have multiplied resulting in fellowship differences. Standardization of fellowship content and requirements is needed, especially if accreditation is to be achieved. Simulation fellowship criteria were developed using expert consensus and the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education requirements to frame the supporting pillars for accreditation. Core curricular components, subelements, and requirements for graduation were derived from a literature review and existing fellowship curricula. A modified Delphi process was performed to establish fellowship program content and requirements. A priori criteria for inclusion or exclusion were used during 3 iterative rounds. Experts could recommend items for inclusion. Fourteen publications and 71 curricula were reviewed with 7 core curriculum components and 44 subelements identified for subsequent expert panel review. All core components were included by consensus: application of teaching and debriefing, business and leadership, curriculum development, educational theory, operational support, research, and assessment and evaluation. Thirty-eight subelements reached consensus. Graduation requirements included a research or scholarly project and a minimum number of debriefing activities, evaluation activities, original simulation curricula, skill-based teaching activities, scenario-based activities, and interprofessional education activities. The maximum number of clinical hours per week was 16 to 20. Using a modified Delphi process, experts reached consensus on core curriculum components, subelements, graduation requirements, and maximum number of clinical hours to establish Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education accreditation criteria for a simulation standardization of simulation fellowships for physicians. Further work is needed to define other parameters including program infrastructure and assessment.

Accreditation of Simulation Fellowships and Training Programs: More Checkboxes or Elevating the Field?

As the field of healthcare simulation matures, formal accreditation for simulation fellowships and training programs has become increasingly available and touted as a solution to standardize the education of those specializing in healthcare simulation. Some simulation experts hold opposing views regarding the potential value of simulation fellowship program accreditation. We report on the proceedings of a spirited debate at the 20th International Meeting on Simulation in Healthcare in January 2020. Pro arguments view accreditation as the logical evolution of a maturing profession: improving training quality through standard setting, providing external validation for individual programs, and enhancing the program's return on investment. Con arguments view accreditation as an incompletely formulated construct; burdensome to the "financially strapped" fellowship director, misaligned with simulation fellows' needs and expectations, and confusing to administrators mistakenly equating accreditation with credentialing. In addition, opponents of accreditation postulate that incorporating curricular standards, practice guidelines, and strategies derived and implemented without rigor, supporting evidence and universal consensus is premature. This narrative review of our debate compares and contrasts contemporary perspectives on simulation fellowship program accreditation, concluding with formal recommendations for learners, administrators, sponsors, and accrediting bodies.

Fundamental underpinnings of simulation education: describing a four-component instructional design approach to healthcare simulation fellowships

Although in 2020, there are more than 120 healthcare simulation fellowships established globally, there is a paucity of literature on how to design fellowship programs most effectively, to equip graduates with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of a competent simulation educator. Offering a systematic structure to approach simulation fellowship programmatic design may aid in better achieving program goals. In this manuscript, we present the application of the 4-component instructional design model as a blueprint to the development of Simulation Education Fellowships. We offer examples used at the NYC Health + Hospitals simulation fellowship to illustrate how the 4-component model informs fellowship program design which promotes the development of a simulation educator. This manuscript will provide a roadmap to designing curricula and assessment practices including self-reflective logbooks to focus the path toward achieving desired skills and shape future conversations around programmatic development.

Simulation Fellowships: Survey of Current Summative Assessment Practices.

The simulation fellowship training community has commenced efforts toward the development of core curricular elements for healthcare simulation fellowships but has not deployed the same effort to create evaluation strategies to monitor fellows' progress. The authors present a current view of simulation fellowship assessment strategies, their relative validity evidence using Kane's theoretical framework, and consider new approaches for defining expertise after training. Fellowship directors in North America were surveyed to identify what competencies are being used by the simulation fellowship community to monitor fellows' progress. A follow-up survey was sent to further clarify which tools with published validity evidence were being applied by current programs. Of the 61 programs contacted, 44 (72.1%) responded and completed the first survey. Of the 44 programs, 32 (72.7%) reported using some formal assessment of their fellows. The most commonly assessed skill was debriefing. Twenty-three (37.7%) of the 61 programs contacted responded to the secondary survey. These reported that the most common published tool used was the Debriefing Assessment for Simulation in Healthcare, with only a few other tools mentioned. There is a paucity of tools with published validity evidence being used to monitor a fellow's progression. The authors agree that further research needs to focus on creating validated assessment tools to assist in refining fellowship training.

Decade in Surgical Education and Simulation Fellowship: A New Pathway for the Surgical Education Leader

Decade in Surgical Education and Simulation Fellowship: A New Pathway for the Surgical Education Leader

Feasibility of Simulation-Based Medical Education in a Low-Income Country: Challenges and Solutions From a 3-year Pilot Program in Uganda.

Simulation is relatively new in many low-income countries. We describe the challenges encountered, solutions deployed, and the costs incurred while establishing two simulation centers in Uganda. The challenges we experienced included equipment costs, difficulty in procurement, lack of context-appropriate curricula, unreliable power, limited local teaching capacity, and lack of coordination among user groups. Solutions we deployed included improvisation of equipment, customization of low-cost simulation software, creation of context-specific curricula, local administrative support, and creation of a simulation fellowship opportunity for local instructors. Total costs for simulation setups ranged from US $165 to $17,000. For centers in low-income countries trying to establish simulation programs, our experience suggests that careful selection of context-appropriate equipment and curricula, engagement with local and international collaborators, and early emphasis to increase local teaching capacity are essential. Further studies are needed to identify the most cost-effective levels of technological complexity for simulation in similar resource-constrained settings.

Evaluation of Technical Competency in Healthcare Simulation (E-TeCHS) tool: a modified Delphi study

BackgroundGraduates of simulation fellowship programmes are expected to have the ability to perform a variety of simulation specific skills at the time of graduation. Currently, simulation fellowship directors have access...

Simulation Fellowship Programs in Graduate Medical Education.

Simulation Fellowship Programs in Graduate Medical Education.

Training the trainers: a survey of simulation fellowship graduates

Coupled with the expansion of simulation has been the development and growth of medical simulation fellowships. These non-accredited fellowships do not have a standardized curriculum and there are currently no studies investigating the simulation fellowship experience. The purpose of this study was to explore the simulation fellowship experience of graduates throughout North America and how it prepared them for their post-fellowship career. A web-based survey was developed by Emergency Medicine attending physicians both of whom completed one-year fellowships in medical simulation. Prior to distribution, the survey was reviewed and tested by three simulation fellowship graduates and a PhD researcher. Feedback was integrated into the survey prior to distribution. The survey consisted of a maximum of 29 multiple choice questions including two step-logic questions and two open response questions. The survey was distributed to simulation fellowship directors in multiple disciplines and the directors were asked to forward the survey to graduates. Additionally, the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Simulation Academy list-serve was utilized for distribution of the survey. The survey had 35 responses. The majority of respondents completed fellowship within the last two years (66%, 23/35). Fellowship graduates strongly agreed or agreed that their fellowship adequately prepared them for their post-fellowship simulation career (88%). Graduates report that research design/reporting (53%) and administration (18%) were areas of their fellowship curriculum that needed the most improvement. The majority of simulation fellowship graduates agreed that their fellowship experience adequately prepared them for their post-fellowship simulation career. Graduates also felt that training in research and administration are areas that could be improved.

Foundational Elements of Applied Simulation Theory: Development and Implementation of a Longitudinal Simulation Educator Curriculum.

Simulation-based education has gained popularity, yet many faculty members feel inadequately prepared to teach using this technique. Fellowship training in medical education exists, but there is little information regarding simulation or formal educational programs therein. In our institution, simulation fellowships were offered by individual clinical departments. We recognized the need for a formal curriculum in educational theory. Kern’s approach to curriculum development was used to develop, implement, and evaluate the Foundational Elements of Applied Simulation Theory (FEAST) curriculum.Needs assessments resulted in a 26-topic curriculum; each biweekly session built upon the previous. Components essential to success included setting goals and objectives for each interactive session and having dedicated faculty, collaborative leadership and administrative support for the curriculum. Evaluation data was collated and analyzed annually via anonymous feedback surveys, focus groups, and retrospective pre-post self-assessment questionnaires.Data collected from 32 fellows over five years of implementation showed that the curriculum improved knowledge, challenged thinking, and was excellent preparation for a career in simulation-based medical education. Themes arising from focus groups demonstrated that participants valued faculty expertise and the structure, practicality, and content of the curriculum.We present a longitudinal simulation educator curriculum that adheres to a well-described framework of curriculum development. Program evaluation shows that FEAST has increased participant knowledge in key areas relevant to simulation-based education and that the curriculum has been successful in meeting the needs of novice simulation educators. Insights and practice points are offered for educators wishing to implement a similar curriculum in their institution.

Exploring Scholarship and the Emergency Medicine Educator: A Workforce Study.

IntroductionRecent literature calls for initiatives to improve the quality of education studies and support faculty in approaching educational problems in a scholarly manner. Understanding the emergency medicine (EM) educator workforce is a crucial precursor to developing policies to support educators and promote education scholarship in EM. This study aims to illuminate the current workforce model for the academic EM educator.MethodsProgram leadership at EM training programs completed an online survey consisting of multiple choice, completion, and free-response type items. We calculated and reported descriptive statistics.Results112 programs participated. Mean number of core faculty/program: 16.02 ± 7.83 [14.53–17.5]. Mean number of faculty full-time equivalents (FTEs)/program dedicated to education is 6.92 ± 4.92 [5.87–7.98], including (mean FTE): Vice chair for education (0.25); director of medical education (0.13); education fellowship director (0.2); residency program director (0.83); associate residency director (0.94); assistant residency director (1.1); medical student clerkship director (0.8); assistant/associate clerkship director (0.28); simulation fellowship director (0.11); simulation director (0.42); director of faculty development (0.13). Mean number of FTEs/program for education administrative support is 2.34 ± 1.1 [2.13–2.61]. Determination of clinical hours varied; 38.75% of programs had personnel with education research expertise.ConclusionEducation faculty represent about 43% of the core faculty workforce. Many programs do not have the full spectrum of education leadership roles and educational faculty divide their time among multiple important academic roles. Clinical requirements vary. Many departments lack personnel with expertise in education research. This information may inform interventions to promote education scholarship.

Development of an Emergency Medicine Simulation Fellowship Consensus Curriculum: Initiative of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Simulation Academy.

There is currently no consolidated list of existing simulation fellowship programs in emergency medicine (EM). In addition, there are no universally accepted or expected standards for core curricular content. The objective of this project is to develop consensus-based core content for EM simulation fellowships to help frame the critical components of such training programs. This paper delineates the process used to develop consensus curriculum content for EM simulation fellowships. EM simulation fellowship curricula were collected. Curricular content was reviewed and compiled by simulation experts and validated utilizing survey methodology, and consensus was obtained using a modified Delphi methodology. Fifteen EM simulation fellowship curricula were obtained and analyzed. Two rounds of a modified Delphi survey were conducted. The final proposed core curriculum content contains 47 elements in nine domains with 14 optional elements. The proposed consensus content will provide current and future fellowships a foundation on which to build their own specific and detailed fellowship curricula. Such standardization will ultimately increase the transparency of training programs for future trainees and potential employers.

Characteristics and Core Curricular Elements of Medical Simulation Fellowships in North America

Background In the past few years, there has been rapid growth in the number of simulation fellowships for physicians in the United States and Canada, with the objective of producing faculty with expertise and leadership training in medical simulation. Relatively little is known about the collective content and structure of these new fellowship opportunities. Objective We sought to identify a common set of core curricular elements among existing simulation fellowships and to obtain demographic background information on participants and leadership. Methods We designed a web-based survey and circulated it to simulation fellowship directors in the United States and Canada. The questions explored aspects of the fellowship curriculum. A grounded theory approach was used to qualitatively analyze fellowship goals and objectives. Results Of the 29 program directors surveyed, 23 responded (79%). The most commonly listed goals and objectives were to increase skills in simulation curriculum development, simulation operations and training environment setup, research, educational theory, administration, and debriefing. The majority of the responding fellowship directors (17 of 22, 77%) indicated that a set of consensus national guidelines would benefit their fellowship program. Conclusions Simulation fellowships are experiencing a period of rapid growth. Development of a common set of program guidelines is a widely shared objective among fellowship directors.

Nursing Simulation Fellowships: An Innovative Approach for Developing Simulation Leaders

BackgroundIncreasingly, nurse educators with expert simulation knowledge and strong leadership skills are needed to lead simulation program implementation and faculty development efforts. The skills necessary for simulation leadership are not all innate but need to be developed and nurtured. Nursing simulation fellowships aimed at developing expert simulation knowledge and leadership skills can be a viable pathway for developing simulation leaders to fill these roles. MethodWe developed a one-year long immersive nursing fellowship as a solution to meet the challenge. The program's structure includes four overall objectives and seven modules with specific learning activities aimed at developing simulation expertise and leadership skills. ResultIn a one-year period, the nursing fellow targeted nursing quality and patient safety by developing and implementing sustainable simulation-based programs, faculty development programs, and scholarly projects. ConclusionNursing simulation fellowships provide a longitudinal guided experience for simulation expertise and leadership skill development. This approach can be a viable solution to meet the growing challenges in implementing simulation programs. This article provides a case exemplar for an innovative approach to developing simulation nurse leaders. Supporting theoretical frameworks, curriculum structure, outcome measures, and challenges are discussed.

Medical education in the digital age: personal reflection on a simulation fellowship.

Technology-advanced learning in healthcare has advanced dramatically in the last 10 years, with an increasing ability to recreate complex scenarios with clinical fidelity. Other technological developments can help to advance simulation-based training as part of a resilient approach to both common scenarios and rare events. In this article, I reflect on the some of the challenges of the developing paradigm of inter-professional high-fidelity simulation and the potential affordances of this modality.