Telesimulation-based education during COVID-19

Abstract

Simulation is a valuable, immersive educational tool for both health professional trainees and experienced clinicians. By promoting a realistic, collaborative, safe, hands-on, learning environment, simulation allows interprofessional teams to come together and practise both routine and high stakes, low-frequency events. The COVID-19 pandemic and the need for social distancing have shifted traditional simulation-based medical education towards a virtual platform: telesimulation. Telesimulation is an evolving field and the speed at which clinical educators need to adapt to use this platform is unprecedented. Educators must quickly navigate and leverage the differences between traditional simulation and telesimulation to create robust remote educational experiences. Telesimulation has unique goals and objectives, technology needs, and participant roles that need to be understood and properly operationalized to maximize opportunities for learning. This article reviews the authors' recommendations for developing and delivering successful telesimulations.

Keywords: COVID-19; education; simulation; telesimulation.

Figure 1

In a remote, non‐simulation centre setting, the mannequin and vital signs monitor are positioned so that both may be captured in one video angle.

Figure 2

Participant view of telesimulation broadcast from a simulation centre. Participants are able to see three views of the mannequin plus the vitals sign monitor. Note the close‐up view of the mannequin showing unequal pupils.