Special Article

Simopoly Improving Simulation Center Operations Through a Tabletop Simulation Exercise Megan Sherman, BA; Farrah Leland, JD; Brian Ross, PhD, MD; Rosemarie Fernandez, MD

Summary Statement: Health care simulation is a rapidly growing, heterogeneous field requiring expertise that is not traditionally represented within health care or educational institutions. Simulation staff members often take on unique roles and have goals and career development needs that differ from more typical hospital and educational institution-based personnel. This poses both challenges and opportunities for simulation administrators. In this article, we describe a novel simulation, Simopoly, designed to provide the opportunity to think creatively about simulation center staff development, retention, and promotion in the context of daily operations and management. (Sim Healthcare 9:304Y311, 2014)

Key Words: Simulation operations, Staff development.

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imulation center staffing needs are frequently changing because of new program demands and organizational needs. Both the simulation literature and national credentialing guidelines have outlined job descriptions such as ‘‘coordinator’’ and ‘‘educator’’; however, how centers meet their skill needs (managerial, technical, educational, etc) is highly variable.1 Often, simulation administrators and directors are restricted to more traditional job titles, making it difficult to think creatively about center personnel requirements. Unlike traditional fields with established promotion pathways, simulation is a new field that is continuously being redefined. This makes it difficult for managers to delineate opportunities for staff growth and development.2,3 Educational games simulating real-world problems have been incorporated in multiple fields, for example, engineering, business, and health care.4Y8 Both ‘‘games’’ and ‘‘simulations’’ share several features.9 They are active forms of learning, where learners apply knowledge and strategies to execute tasks and roles. They can introduce participants to new situations and place the participant in control of the action. However, games and simulations differ on an From the Department of Anesthesiology (B.R.), Institute for Simulation and Interprofessional Studies (M.S., F.L., B.R.), and Division of Emergency Medicine (R.F.), University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Reprints: Megan Sherman, BA, Institute for Simulation and Interprofessional Studies, University of Washington, 1959 NE Pacific St, Box 356410, Seattle, WA 98195 (e

Simopoly: improving simulation center operations through a tabletop simulation exercise.

Health care simulation is a rapidly growing, heterogeneous field requiring expertise that is not traditionally represented within health care or educa...
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