The USF Health Simulation Consortium was recently accredited by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH) for its Assessment, Teaching/Education and Systems Integration.  The Consortium earned praise for several areas including the collaborative bond provided to the multiple simulation entities across colleges, and strong educational and training aspects of both the Consortium and of its clinical skills learning center for students, in particular.

USF Health’s is the first and only such simulation program in Florida accredited by SSH.

The USF Health Simulation Consortium includes USF Health’s five simulation centers (USF Health Simulation Center at Tampa General Hospital, daVinci Center for Computer-Assisted Surgery, TEAM Education and Multidisciplinary Simulation (TEAMS) Center at 17 Davis, Center for Advanced Clinical Learning at the College of Medicine (CACL), and Center for Virtual Simulation and Clinical Excellence (VSCE) at the College of Nursing). The goal of the Consortium is to provide continuity and support to the various simulation centers throughout USF Health.

The SSH accreditation is the second endorsement for the Consortium since forming in April 2010. In January 2011, it was awarded full accreditation by the American College of Surgeons as a Level I Comprehensive Education Institute.

Dr. Laura Haubner

“These endorsements acknowledge the group’s quality of education and focus on patient safety for all areas offering simulation at USF Health,” said Laura Haubner, MD, clinical director for CAMLS and program director for the SSH accreditation. “This validation of our training programs helps us maintain our mission to define and assess competencies for the benefit of patient outcomes and improved patient care.”

USF’s accreditation committee was directed by Dr. Haubner and included Dawn Schocken, director of CACL; Deborah Sutherland, PhD, associate vice president of USF Health, associate dean for Continuing Medical Education, and director of ACS Education Institute; Beverly Hughes, administrator for Sim Center at TGH; John Armstrong, MD, medical director for CAMLS and surgical director for the ACS Education Institute; Christine Airey, MSN, RN, education coordinator for Sim Center at TGH; Susanna Odelskog, RN, education coordinator for the USF Dept. of Pediatrics TEAMS; Rita D’Aoust, PhD, associate dean of the College of Nursing; and Laura Gonzalez, PhD, administrator for VSCE for the College of Nursing. 

The SSH site visit team visited USF Health in May, touring USF Health’s simulation centers and interviewing faculty, administrators, students and leaders of the various simulation programs. In their final report granting accreditation, the site-visit team noted several strengths found at USF Health.

Strengths or outstanding practices identified by the Review Team

1. The value of the USF Health Simulation Consortium to the parent organization is clear. The value is evidenced by: a. The program’s ongoing collaboration between colleges and hospital entities b. The intimate involvement of the institutional CEO and Chief Administrative Liaison that facilitates the sustainability of the program c. Dedicated space created and reserved for the USF Health Simulation Consortium

2. The assessment activities demonstrated at CACL are robust and consistent with demonstrable quality education and learning.

3. The surgical technical training activities of the consortium appeared vigorous and stable   

The Society of Simulation in Healthcare was formed in 2004 to develop and promote standards of simulation-based practice, education, and research in the facilitation of patient safety. Now with more than 2,000 members, the group is a broad-based, multi-disciplinary, multi-specialty, international society with ties to all medical specialties, nursing, allied health paramedical personnel, and industry.

Story by Sarah A. Worth, photos by Eric Younghans, USF Health Office of Communications.