Simulation for Quality Improvement

Simulation is often underutilized in quality improvement (QI) studies, especially at the systems level. Simulation can be used as an assessment methodology or educational intervention and can thus be a critical component or adjunct to established QI methodologies. This chapter describes how to integrate simulation into existing QI frameworks, using a plan-do-study-act (PDSA) model of improvement, and highlights how simulation can facilitate effective quality improvement work at both the “micro” and macro-systems level. The chapter also explores the use of simulation as both an intervention and assessment tool and provides examples of PDSA-focused study designs which use simulation to improve various domains of care.