Tips for Conducting Telesimulation-Based Medical Education

Thomas, Anita; Burns, Rebekah; Sanseau, Elizabeth; Auerbach, Marc

Telesimulation utilizes communications technology, such as video conferencing platforms, to provide simulation-based medical education when participants and facilitators are geographically separated. Learners interact with each other, embedded participants, and a simulated patient and/or vital sign display on the computer screen. Facilitators observe the learners in real-time and provide immediate feedback during a remote debrief. Telesimulation obviates the need to have instructors, learners, and high fidelity patient simulators (HPS) in the same place, allowing simulation-based educational sessions to occur in institutions located remotely from simulation centers or when other barriers limit in-person education and/or training. For example, due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, many medical education programs temporarily discontinued in-person simulations to adhere to physical distancing guidelines. The authors have reflected upon their experiences executing telesimulation sessions since the start of the pandemic and provide these 12 tips as practical suggestions on how to successfully implement telesimulations with medical trainees. These tips are intended to guide implementation and facilitation by staff and faculty trained in simulation.