Teaching with Simulation

Critical care is like aviation: there is little room for error. As a result, simulation is becoming a cornerstone of training in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine. Simulation allows for deliberate practice of individual and teamwork skills, practice for rare but potentially deadly events, and optimization of health system performance. In specific situations, simulation can be used to demonstrate competency while also improving patient care outcomes. Successful simulation-based education demands planning and attention to the skill levels of participants, availability of equipment, time for careful and scripted debriefing, and proper evaluation of performance. In this chapter, we discuss the value of and evidence for using simulation in medical education in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, as well as the educational theory which supports its use, tips for implementing and sustaining successful simulation programs, and the limitations of simulation.