Simulation as a methodology for assessing the performance of healthcare professionals working in the delivery room

Formal evaluation of healthcare professionals has been accomplished primarily through assessment of the ability to recall content knowledge despite the fact that cognitive, technical and behavioral skills are all important aspects of human performance in this domain. In addition human performance is also influenced by elements that are extrinsic to the human being including the systems and subsystems with which they must interact. Rigorous assessment of human and system performance in the actual healthcare environment is extremely challenging for a number of reasons. Simulation provides a methodology by which this performance can be objectively assessed, thereby facilitating the delivery of effective, safe and efficient patient care.