Virtual Simulation Technology: Supercharge an Online or Hybrid OSCE Curriculum

The need to rapidly adapt traditional healthcare simulation-based training curricula into distance learning modalities through virtual simulation technology has never been greater. Mandated shutdowns and campus closures driven by COVID-19 have left higher education institutions struggling to pivot their clinical simulation programs between in-person and remote-learning environments. For these medical simulation education programs, this means taking healthcare simulation online.

Virtual simulation technology can help.  Today, online or hybrid curricula can include healthcare simulation scenarios, observations and assessments. They can also help learners with the accrual of requisite clinical examination hours. Further, virtual simulation technology has the ability to help learners better prepare for  boards and high stakes exams. For example, learners can engage in virtual simulation as a way to prep for the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE).

This article explains five ways that a healthcare simulation program can enhance combined and adaptable in-person, virtual and video-based, and hybrid learning initiatives. Additionally, the article notes how healthcare simulation educators can work to meet immediate clinical training needs in their curriculum no matter where the learning takes place. Given the coronavirus pandemic, being able to learn and practice skills from anywhere and at anytime has become crucial to reaching optimal learning outcomes.

1. Virtual Simulation Versatility

Training in person? Conducting virtual or distance learning? Deploying a hybrid training curriculum? No matter how you’re doing simulation-based training, virtual simulation technology enables you to conduct high-impact standardized patient (SP) encounters and simulation sessions in a fully online environment. Plus, your virtual technology platform’s integrated telemedicine training features can help you bridge the gap to modernized healthcare simulation environments, as well as meet the critical need to practice shifting clinical treatment in telemedicine formats.

2. Clinical Simulation Technology Security and Quality Control

Virtual simulation technology helps you streamline the administration, documentation, tracking, reporting, and delivery of your in-person or online educational courses and training programs — and safely and securely maintain your videos, livestreams and recordings, and student data. Feel confident that the full scope of your online and video-based clinical training delivery — including live OSCEs and simulation sessions, debrief, and seamless video export for online and archival use — is safe with enhanced password protection and data encryption. Plus, with integrated, intuitive virtual simulation workflows, you can observe and provide quality control for the educational experience across multiple locations.

3. Healthcare Simulation Virtual Accessibility

Do your educators, SPs, and students have the ability to access and participate virtually in live clinical training events from any remote location? With high-quality video streaming, integrated teleconferencing tools, and a distance learning-friendly interface with powerful reporting capabilities, your virtual simulation platform helps you establish a seamless online alternative to in-person training, providing the flexibility to shift learning along with the needs of your students — all while maximizing engagement and outcomes.

4. Virtual Simulation Platform Scalability

No matter how many faculty members, students, learner groups, and SPs are associated with your program, or what your short and long-term clinical training goals may be, your virtual simulation platform should support you with scalable, on-demand management. Virtual simulation also allows institutions to leverage instructors, staff, and SPs across multiple locations while expanding scalability to provide more experiential learning experiences for students.

5. Healthcare Simulation Learning Sustainability

Clinical training may never be the same as before with a “new normal,” post-COVID-19 world — and in all likelihood, distance and hybrid learning is here to stay. Healthcare simulation is more important than ever to maximizing your program’s return on investment in training technology, so be sure to select a virtual simulation platform that fits the full scope of your needs. Not sure where to start? A well-defined sustainability plan provides a road map to guide you and your clinical education team as you identify what resources are necessary to meet your current and future virtual simulation needs.

Tools to Facilitate Healthcare Simulation Distance Learning

Unable to train within your institution’s brick and mortar clinical skills or simulation center? EMS’ SIMULATIONiQ Virtual OSCE supports your requirements for delivering video-based OSCE encounters any time, anywhere. Since March 2020 — the month when many universities across the United States, Canada, and the world were closing due to the COVID-19 pandemic, necessitating a rapid shift to video-based, online learning — SIMULATIONiQ Virtual OSCE users have completed over 60,700 live encounters. That amounts to a whopping 321,000+ minutes of real-time, virtual education!

SIMULATIONiQ Virtual OSCE is a turnkey platform to conduct high-impact standardized patient (SP) encounters in a fully virtual environment and meet your immediate clinical training needs. Seamlessly deploy your full repository of OSCE-ready cases. Provide your own SPs or take advantage of EMS’ SP Sourcing and SP Training services.

With DistanceSIM, the newest product extension for EMS’ SIMULATIONiQ Enterprise and SIMULATIONiQ Enterprise Cloud solutions, medical, nursing, and allied health institutions can simply and easily use a combination of physical training rooms and virtual teleconferencing connectivity to conduct live simulation and clinical observation scenarios online. Are your learners unable to sit for their boards and graduate without accruing the requisite amount of clinical observation hours? DistanceSIM provides a convenient way to use your healthcare simulation center to substitute clinical observation hours with simulation hours, and to help ensure learners can graduate on time.

More About Education Management Solutions (EMS)

Medical, nursing, and allied health schools, hospitals, and counseling programs use EMS’ suite of products to more efficiently manage their in-person, online, and hybrid simulation-based training initiatives, effectively evaluate learner performance, and digitally document simulated events. As the leader in clinical simulation management technology since its founding in 1994, EMS provides a complete turnkey solution that includes integrated software and hardware, virtual and online solutions, design and planning, engineering, configuration, installation, training, and support.

Learn More About EMS

Today’s article was guest authored by Gwen Wille, Content Marketing Manager at Education Management Solutions.

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