Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 1, 2025
Simulator Training for Endovascular Neurosurgery
Published on: May 6, 2020
ACEP SimBox: A Pediatric Simulation-Based Training Innovation
Samreen Vora1, Joyce Li2, Maybelle Kou3
1Department of Emergency Medicine, Children's Minnesota Hospital, Minneapolis, MN.
Insights
Community emergency departments (EDs) can now improve pediatric readiness with the free, low-cost ACEP SimBox. This simulation-based training resource enhances skills for critically ill infants and children, boosting confidence and preparedness in EDs nationwide.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Emergency Medicine
- Pediatric Critical Care
Background:
- Millions of pediatric visits occur annually in US emergency departments (EDs), primarily in community settings.
- Pediatric simulation-based training is effective but limited in community EDs due to high costs and expert access.
- Existing simulation resources are often concentrated in academic hospitals, creating a gap in community ED preparedness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a free, open-access, "off-the-shelf" simulation-based training resource for community EDs.
- To improve the readiness of community EDs in triaging, resuscitating, and transferring critically ill infants and children.
- To assess the perceived value and effectiveness of the simulation resource through participant and facilitator feedback.
Main Methods:
- Designed the "American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) SimBox," a low-technology manikin-based training kit with supporting materials.
- Distributed 179 ACEP SimBoxes to community EDs across 36 states between January 2018 and December 2019.
- Collected pre- and post-simulation survey data from facilitators and participants to measure opinions on the training and its impact.
Main Results:
- The ACEP SimBox was successfully implemented in numerous community EDs nationwide.
- Facilitators and participants found the simulation sessions valuable and sufficient for learning, utilizing low-technology manikins with institutional equipment.
- All participants reported increased commitment to pediatric readiness within their ED after the training.
Conclusions:
- The ACEP SimBox is an innovative, cost-effective solution to enhance pediatric readiness in community EDs.
- This accessible simulation tool can be widely distributed and implemented to improve critical care preparedness for pediatric patients.
- The initiative demonstrates the feasibility of developing and deploying simulation-based training to address critical needs in diverse healthcare settings.
Abstract:
Thirty million pediatric visits (<18 years old) occur across 5,000 US emergency departments (EDs) each year, with most of these cases presenting to community EDs. Simulation-based training is an effective method to improve and sustain EDs' readiness to triage and stabilize critically ill infants and children, but large simulation centers are mostly concentrated at academic hospitals. The use of pediatric simulation-based training has been limited in the community ED setting due to the high cost of equipment and limited access to content experts in pediatric critical care. We designed an innovative "off-the-shelf" simulation-based training resource, "American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) SimBox," that provides a free low-technology manikin along with teaching aids and train-the-trainer materials to community EDs to run a simulation drill in their own workspaces with local educators. The goal was to develop an "off-the-shelf," free, open-access, simulation-based resource to improve the readiness of community EDs to triage, resuscitate, and transfer critically ill infants as measured by presimulation and postsimulation surveys measuring opinions regarding the scenario, session experience, and most valuable aspect of the session. Between January 2018 and December 2019, 179 ACEP SimBoxes were shipped across the United States, reaching 36 of 50 states. Facilitators and participants who completed the postsimulation survey evaluated the session as a valuable use of their time. All facilitator respondents reported that the low-technology manikins, paired with their institution-specific equipment, were sufficient for learning, thus reducing costs. All participant respondents reported an increased commitment to pediatric readiness for their ED after completing the simulation session. This innovation resulted in the implementation of a unique simulation-based training intervention across many community EDs in the United States. The ACEP SimBox innovation demonstrates that an easy to use and unique simulation-based training tool can be developed, distributed, and implemented across many community EDs in the United States to help improve community ED pediatric readiness.
