Simulation-Based Training for Emergency Department Flow Management: A Dual-Site Experience With GridlockED in France

Background Emergency department overcrowding and flow management remain critical challenges worldwide, demanding not only clinical expertise but also robust non-technical skills such as teamwork, communication, and systems thinking. Material and methods This program evaluation describes two workshops conducted during major French medical conferences in 2025, using the GridlockED tabletop simulation game as an interactive educational tool for healthcare professionals. A total of 46 participants with diverse professional backgrounds and experience levels completed post-session surveys assessing satisfaction, perceived realism, language accessibility, and self-reported learning gains across five competencies related to emergency department flow management. Results Results indicated high overall satisfaction and meaningful perceived learning, particularly in identifying operational barriers, though team communication emerged as the lowest-rated skill. The English-language format represented a moderate barrier for French-speaking participants, highlighting the need for linguistic adaptation. Conclusions These findings support the potential of tabletop simulation games as accessible, scalable training tools for enhancing emergency department flow management competencies in non-English-speaking healthcare contexts.