In situ simulation: identification of systems issues

Abstract

The Institute of Medicine's report, To Err is Human, concluded that "medical errors are not a result of isolated individual actions but rather faulty systems, processes, and conditions that lead people to make mistakes." In situ simulation offers the unique opportunity to train the teams of people who deliver healthcare while enhancing policies, evaluating new technologies, and improving the systems that support the delivery of safe healthcare. For this reason, the Institute of Medicine, the Joint Commission, and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality recommend medical simulation as one of the most important safe practice interventions to reduce errors and risks associated with the process of care. This review builds on other reports in this issue and discusses the application of in situ simulation to identify, address, and test systems improvements.