Interprofessional Simulation in a Digital World: Teaching Collaborative Practice in Web-Based Environments

Area of Science:

• Health Professions Education
• Simulation-Based Learning
• Telehealth

Background:

• Interprofessional education (IPE) is crucial for healthcare but challenging to implement.
• The Excellence in Interprofessional Simulation Education program was an effective in-person IPE model.
• Adapting IPE to virtual formats presents unique implementation hurdles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the adaptation of an in-person interprofessional simulation program to a teleconferencing format.
• To evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of virtual interprofessional simulation.
• To share best practices for implementing online IPE.

Main Methods:

• Transitioned an established in-person simulation program to a web-based teleconferencing environment.
• Conducted 40 virtual simulations involving 800 students from 10 different health disciplines.
• Emphasized meticulous planning, role definition, and rehearsal for the online format.

Main Results:

• Successfully executed 40 teleconferenced simulation sessions within one academic year.
• Engaged a large and diverse cohort of 800 students across multiple health professions.
• Student participants reported high levels of satisfaction and perceived effectiveness.

Conclusions:

• Teleconferencing is a viable and effective format for delivering interprofessional simulation education.
• Careful planning and adaptation are key to successful virtual IPE implementation.
• Online simulation offers a scalable solution for interprofessional training across various health disciplines.