Simulation Learning

Healthcare professionals rarely work in isolation; most work within an interprofessional environment. Interprofessional education is the foundation for effective interprofessional collaboration in the clinical practice setting. It maximizes patient outcomes.

Interprofessional Education (IPE)

Interprofessional education (IPE) is defined as two or more professions learning about, from and with each other to enable collaboration and improve health outcomes (World Health Organization, 2010).

“An IPE intervention occurs when members of more than one health or social care (or both) profession learn interactively together, for the explicit purpose of improving interprofessional collaboration or the health/well-being (or both) of patients/clients.” (Reeves et al., 2013, p. 5)

Interprofessional Collaboration (IPC)

According to the World Health Organization, interprofessional collaboration (IPC) “occurs when multiple health workers from different professional backgrounds provide comprehensive services by working with patients, their families, carers and communities to deliver the highest quality of care across settings” (2010).  Although sometimes referred to as multidisciplinary or interdisciplinary, IPC occurs when the different professionals work together with a shared or common goal, instead of working within their respective disciplines.  

  Introduction to interprofessional collaboration and interprofessional education

What is simulation-enhanced interprofessional education (Sim-IPE)? Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best Practice™ (HSSOBP™) describe SIM-IPE as simulation-based education experiences where learners from different professions come together with shared learning outcomes.

Criteria necessary to meet this standard: 

1. Conduct Sim-IPE based on a theoretical or conceptual framework.
2. Utilize best practices in the design and development of Sim-IPE.
3. Recognize and address potential barriers to Sim-IPE.
4. Devise an appropriate evaluation plan for Sim-IPE.

(Rossler et al., 2021)

©2021 INACSL. Used with permission.

The full article is available here:

In simulation, IPE helps create a psychologically safe workplace by promoting communication and creating space to have challenging conversations in a non-judgmental and confidential way (Lackie et al., 2023). 

Simulation-based education (SBE) is an excellent approach to interprofessional education. It allows learners from multiple disciplines to come together and practice in a low-stakes environment. SBE provides a unique setting to address interprofessional collaboration competencies, such as those outlined in the Canadian Interprofessional Health Collaborative (CIHC) Competency Framework for Advancing Collaboration. 
 

CIHC Competency Framework

©Canadian Interprofessional Health Collaborative. Used with permission. 

We recommend you read more on the CIHC Framework for Advancing Collaboration:

Interprofessional education (IPE) has its own unique challenges. Planning and developing activities requires more coordination than uniprofessional educational interventions. To achieve the best outcomes, it is important to maximize the involvement of representatives from all parties. This might look like: 

• Consulting subject-matter experts during the simulation design process.
• Developing simulation objectives that apply to all professions participating.
• Co-facilitating with an interprofessional team.
• Communicating feedback to all participating groups after the activity. 

IPE can be integrated throughout simulation-based education. Additional information on IPE can be found in other sections, including Simulation Design, Facilitation, and Debriefing.

For more in-depth information, we recommend the following resources: 

• Brazil, V., Spurr, J., Symon, B., & Stokes-Parish, J. (Hosts) (2023, June 15). Interprofessional Education (IPE) in Healthcare Simulation with Dr Karen Dickinson (No. 173) [Audio podcase episode]. In Simulcast. https://simulationpodcast.com/173-interprofessional-education-ipe-in-healthcare-simulation-173-with-dr-karen-dickinson/ 
• Interprofessional Innovations. (2020, December 5). Dr. Janice Palaganas on Healthcare Simulation as a Platform for Interprofessional Education [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPAT37nPPk8