Value-based simulation in healthcare: a new model for metrics reporting

doi:10.1186/s41077-025-00368-w

. 2025 Jul 28;10(1):41.

doi: 10.1186/s41077-025-00368-w.

Value-based simulation in healthcare: a new model for metrics reporting

Lisa T Barker¹, Michael Meguerdichian^{2

3}, Katie Walker^{4

5}, Sarah Janssens⁶, Rebecca A Szabo^{7

8

9}, Connie Lopez¹⁰, Jared W Henricksen¹¹, Ben Symon^{12

13}

Affiliations

¹ Jump Simulation, OSF HealthCare and University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria Collaboration, Peoria, IL, USA.
² Simulation Center, NYC Health + Hospitals, New York, NYC, USA.
³ Harlem Emergency Department, New York, USA.
⁴ Mater Misericordiae Limited, Mater Health Simulation Service, Mater Hospitals, Level 4, Duncombe Building, South Brisbane, QLD, 4101, Australia. verandah0@gmail.com.
⁵ Bond University, Gold Coast, Australia. verandah0@gmail.com.
⁶ Mater Mothers Hospital, Brisbane, Australia.
⁷ Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Newborn Health, Department of Medical Education, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
⁸ The Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
⁹ Women's Health Education, Simulation & Gandel Simulation Service, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
¹⁰ The Permanente Medical Group, Risk and Patient Safety, Kaiser Permanente, The Permanente Medical Group, Pleasanton, CA, USA.
¹¹ University of Utah Health, Salt Lake City, USA.
¹² Mater Misericordiae Limited, Mater Health Simulation Service, Mater Hospitals, Level 4, Duncombe Building, South Brisbane, QLD, 4101, Australia. drbensymon@gmail.com.
¹³ School of Clinical Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. drbensymon@gmail.com.

PMID: 40721827
PMCID: PMC12305902
DOI: 10.1186/s41077-025-00368-w

Value-based simulation in healthcare: a new model for metrics reporting

Lisa T Barker et al. Adv Simul (Lond). 2025.

. 2025 Jul 28;10(1):41.

doi: 10.1186/s41077-025-00368-w.

Authors

Lisa T Barker¹, Michael Meguerdichian^{2

3}, Katie Walker^{4

5}, Sarah Janssens⁶, Rebecca A Szabo^{7

8

9}, Connie Lopez¹⁰, Jared W Henricksen¹¹, Ben Symon^{12

13}

Affiliations

¹ Jump Simulation, OSF HealthCare and University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria Collaboration, Peoria, IL, USA.
² Simulation Center, NYC Health + Hospitals, New York, NYC, USA.
³ Harlem Emergency Department, New York, USA.
⁴ Mater Misericordiae Limited, Mater Health Simulation Service, Mater Hospitals, Level 4, Duncombe Building, South Brisbane, QLD, 4101, Australia. verandah0@gmail.com.
⁵ Bond University, Gold Coast, Australia. verandah0@gmail.com.
⁶ Mater Mothers Hospital, Brisbane, Australia.
⁷ Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Newborn Health, Department of Medical Education, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
⁸ The Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
⁹ Women's Health Education, Simulation & Gandel Simulation Service, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
¹⁰ The Permanente Medical Group, Risk and Patient Safety, Kaiser Permanente, The Permanente Medical Group, Pleasanton, CA, USA.
¹¹ University of Utah Health, Salt Lake City, USA.
¹² Mater Misericordiae Limited, Mater Health Simulation Service, Mater Hospitals, Level 4, Duncombe Building, South Brisbane, QLD, 4101, Australia. drbensymon@gmail.com.
¹³ School of Clinical Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. drbensymon@gmail.com.

PMID: 40721827
PMCID: PMC12305902
DOI: 10.1186/s41077-025-00368-w

Abstract

Background: Healthcare simulation services are increasingly expected to demonstrate their value-a term that remains highly context-dependent and frequently misunderstood. While traditional models such as Kirkpatrick and Phillips have supported early evaluation efforts, they embed hierarchical assumptions about which types of data matter most. These assumptions can constrain recognition of simulation's broader contributions and lead to misguided or inefficient measurement practices.

Main body: In this paper, we propose the value-based simulation in healthcare (VBSH) model, an adaptation of Phillips' framework that offers simulation-specific nomenclature and a service-level lens. Structured as a taxonomy rather than a hierarchy, the VBSH model comprises six freestanding but interdependent categories: Service Products, Program Perceptions, Acquired Expertise, Workplace Performance, System Benefit, and Value Analyses. This model is designed to support simulation teams and organizational leaders in selecting relevant measurement strategies, aligning simulation work with institutional goals, and co-creating metrics that are operationally meaningful.

Conclusion: By reframing simulation as a vector for insight, improvement, and transformation-not just training delivery-the VBSH model aims to shift the conversation from metric power to metric relevance, fostering a more accurate, efficient, and context-aware narrative of simulation's value in healthcare.

Keywords: Healthcare simulation; Organizational impact; Program evaluation; Simulation metrics; Translational simulation; Value-based simulation.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Not applicable. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: Rebecca Szabo is on the Editorial Board for Advances in Simulation.

Figures

**Fig. 1**
The value-based simulation in healthcare (VBSH) model—graphical abstract

See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

1. Phillips PP. Measuring ROI in healthcare: tools and techniques to measure the impact and ROI in healthcare improvement projects and programs. 1st ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Education LLC; 2013. p. 1. (McGraw-Hill’s AccessMedicine).
1. Van Staalduinen DJ, Van Den Bekerom P, Groeneveld S, Kidanemariam M, Stiggelbout AM, Van Den Akker-van Marle ME. The implementation of value-based healthcare: a scoping review. BMC Health Serv Res. 2022;22(1):270. - PMC - PubMed
1. Nestel D, Brazil V, Hay M. You can’t put a value on that… or can you? Economic evaluation in simulation-based medical education. Med Educ. 2018;52(2):139–41. - PubMed
1. Zendejas B, Wang AT, Brydges R, Hamstra SJ, Cook DA. Cost: the missing outcome in simulation-based medical education research: a systematic review. Surgery. 2013;153(2):160–76. - PubMed
1. Lin Y, Cheng A, Hecker K, Grant V, Currie GR. Implementing economic evaluation in simulation-based medical education: challenges and opportunities. Med Educ. 2018;52(2):150–60. - PubMed

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[1] Phillips PP. Measuring ROI in healthcare: tools and techniques to measure the impact and ROI in healthcare improvement projects and programs. 1st ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Education LLC; 2013. p. 1. (McGraw-Hill’s AccessMedicine).

[2] Phillips PP. Measuring ROI in healthcare: tools and techniques to measure the impact and ROI in healthcare improvement projects and programs. 1st ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Education LLC; 2013. p. 1. (McGraw-Hill’s AccessMedicine).

[3] Van Staalduinen DJ, Van Den Bekerom P, Groeneveld S, Kidanemariam M, Stiggelbout AM, Van Den Akker-van Marle ME. The implementation of value-based healthcare: a scoping review. BMC Health Serv Res. 2022;22(1):270. - PMC - PubMed

[4] Van Staalduinen DJ, Van Den Bekerom P, Groeneveld S, Kidanemariam M, Stiggelbout AM, Van Den Akker-van Marle ME. The implementation of value-based healthcare: a scoping review. BMC Health Serv Res. 2022;22(1):270. - PMC - PubMed

[5] Nestel D, Brazil V, Hay M. You can’t put a value on that… or can you? Economic evaluation in simulation-based medical education. Med Educ. 2018;52(2):139–41. - PubMed

[6] Nestel D, Brazil V, Hay M. You can’t put a value on that… or can you? Economic evaluation in simulation-based medical education. Med Educ. 2018;52(2):139–41. - PubMed

[7] Zendejas B, Wang AT, Brydges R, Hamstra SJ, Cook DA. Cost: the missing outcome in simulation-based medical education research: a systematic review. Surgery. 2013;153(2):160–76. - PubMed

[8] Zendejas B, Wang AT, Brydges R, Hamstra SJ, Cook DA. Cost: the missing outcome in simulation-based medical education research: a systematic review. Surgery. 2013;153(2):160–76. - PubMed

[9] Lin Y, Cheng A, Hecker K, Grant V, Currie GR. Implementing economic evaluation in simulation-based medical education: challenges and opportunities. Med Educ. 2018;52(2):150–60. - PubMed

[10] Lin Y, Cheng A, Hecker K, Grant V, Currie GR. Implementing economic evaluation in simulation-based medical education: challenges and opportunities. Med Educ. 2018;52(2):150–60. - PubMed

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Value-based simulation in healthcare: a new model for metrics reporting

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Value-based simulation in healthcare: a new model for metrics reporting

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