Training and simulation for patient safety.
BACKGROUND
Simulation-based medical education enables knowledge, skills and attitudes to be acquired for all healthcare professionals in a safe, educationally orientated and efficient manner. Procedure-based skills, communication, leadership and team working can be learnt, be measured and have the potential to be used as a mode of certification to become an independent practitioner.


RESULTS
Simulation-based training initially began with life-like manikins and now encompasses an entire range of systems, from synthetic models through to high fidelity simulation suites. These models can also be used for training in new technologies, for the application of existing technologies to new environments and in prototype testing. The level of simulation must be appropriate to the learners' needs and can range from focused tuition to mass trauma scenarios. The development of simulation centres is a global phenomenon which should be encouraged, although the facilities should be used within appropriate curricula that are methodologically sound and cost-effective.


CONCLUSIONS
A review of current techniques reveals that simulation can successfully promote the competencies of medical expert, communicator and collaborator. Further work is required to develop the exact role of simulation as a training mechanism for scholarly skills, professionalism, management and health advocacy.
Aggarwal
Rajesh
R
Division of Surgery, Imperial College London, London, UK. rajesh.aggarwal@imperial.ac.uk
Mytton
Oliver T
OT
Derbrew
Milliard
M
Hananel
David
D
Heydenburg
Mark
M
Issenberg
Barry
B
MacAulay
Catherine
C
Mancini
Mary Elizabeth
ME
Morimoto
Takeshi
T
Soper
Nathaniel
N
Ziv
Amitai
A
Reznick
Richard
R
D020811:Biomedical Technology; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003142:Communication; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D018961:Educational Technology / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D008348:Manikins; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000517:prevention & control; D017145:Models, Educational; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000592:standards; D061214:Patient Safety; D016544:Patient Simulation; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care