The healthcare establishment which won this year’s first prize in the European Private Hospitalization Awards in this category is:
Hospital Da Luz Learning Health, Portugal
for its Simulation Pathway for Enhanced Patient Care
The Hospital da Luz Learning Health Simulation Center (HLLHCS) was created as an integral part of a comprehensive program that aims to seek excellence in the provision of care, in which safety, reliability, efficiency, cost-effectiveness and value for the patient is a permanent concern.
We plan, develop, and evaluate training and simulation programs for professionals working in health care, inside and outside the Luz Saúde Group, in order to achieve high levels of performance and clinical excellence. We offer a broad spectrum of learning and training opportunities, including the most advanced simulation training courses, addressing different levels of competence in a dynamic and safe environment. We firmly believe that the cornerstone of excellence in professional development lies in the establishment of a robust and comprehensive training pathway in healthcare simulation education. This training pathway serves as the bedrock upon which healthcare students and professionals can build their expertise and proficiency in simulation-based teaching and learning methodologies and also improve their readiness for clinical practice.
Through our extensive experience and commitment to advancing simulation education, we have witnessed firsthand the transformative impact of providing them with structured and comprehensive training in simulation pedagogy and its instructional methods. Knowledge, skills, and resources necessary to effectively apply simulation as an educational tool, we empower them to create immersive learning experiences, foster critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills, and ultimately enhance patient care outcomes.
Our comprehensive training pathway in healthcare simulation education covers a diverse range of topics, including simulation principles, fundamentals, scenario design and development, debriefing techniques, non-technical skills (as communication, leadership, critical thinking, and decision making), crisis resource management, interprofessional education, technology integration and practical pointers to address clinical cases adapted to the audience knowledge level. By addressing these fundamental areas of competency, we ensure that our faculty members are well-prepared to excel as simulation educators, leaders, and advocates within their respective fields.
Moreover, our commitment to ongoing evaluation, refinement, and continuous improvement of our training pathway reflects our dedication to maintaining the highest standards of excellence in professional development. We recognize that the success of our educator’s training program is measured not only by the knowledge and skills acquired by participants but also by the long-term impact on healthcare education, patient care, and healthcare system performance. Investing in the professional growth and development of our faculty members, we are laying the foundation for a brighter future for both sectors, education and healthcare.
In summary, the establishment of a comprehensive training pathway in healthcare simulation education is not only essential for individual professional development but also serves as a catalyst for driving innovation, quality improvement, and excellence in healthcare education and practice.
Within the scope of the Centro Académico Clínico Católica Luz – CAC-C, Hospital da Luz Learning Health (HLLH) and Portuguese Catholic University School of Medicine (PCUSM) launch a comprehensive training pathway in healthcare simulation education. This aligns with strategic focus of both institutions where training, research, and innovation converge to shape the future of healthcare. By launching this initiative in collaboration, we further reinforce our commitment to fostering synergy between teaching, research, and clinical practice.
Our initiative embodies the ethos of transforming individuals into cohesive teams, where talent is seamlessly integrated with cutting-edge technology. We believe in the power of simulation-based education to cultivate a positive attitude towards change, preparing healthcare professionals to embrace innovation and adapt to the evolving landscape of healthcare delivery.
The objectives are:
a) Raise awareness and improve non-technical skills (NTS) through immersive simulation experiences.
b) Nurture simulation developers and facilitators, empowering them to take an active role in their own and their colleagues’ education, culminating in the creation and execution of their own simulation-based training program.
c) Evaluate the effectiveness of the program through outcome metrics, including student ratings, performance assessments, and feedback analysis.
d) Continuously refine and improve the program based on participants feedback and assessment outcomes, with the goal of extending it to a broader audience and achieving higher levels of individual and team performance, establish a sustainable framework for ongoing simulation-based education.
e) Enhance leadership abilities: Work as simulation instructors requires strong leadership skills. They learn how to effectively lead and guide others through training sessions, fostering a culture of collaboration, mentorship, and continuous learning. These abilities extend beyond the simulation environment and can translate into more effective leadership in clinical settings, research projects, and healthcare organizations.
f) Improve communication skills: Simulation training involves not only leading scenarios but also facilitating debriefings. Healthcare professionals who become simulation instructors develop enhanced communication skills, as active listening, empathy, clinical handover, essential for effective teamwork, patient care, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
g) Increase confidence and competence: Teaching others is a powerful way to solidify one’s own knowledge and competence. By preparing healthcare professionals to deliver simulation training to their peers or mentees, they deepen their own knowledge and skills in clinical practice, critical thinking, and decision-making.
h) Promote a culture of safety and continuous improvement: Simulation training emphasizes the importance of safety, risk management, and continuous improvement in healthcare delivery. Simulation instructors become champions for patient safety and advocates for ongoing quality improvement initiatives within their organizations. By sharing best practices, identifying areas for improvement, and implementing evidence-based strategies learned through simulation training, they contribute to creating a culture of safety and excellence in patient care.
i) Expand knowledge sharing networks: Becoming a simulation instructor often involves collaborating with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and specialties. This collaborative environment fosters the exchange of ideas, experiences, and best practices among healthcare professionals, leading to the expansion of knowledge sharing networks within and across healthcare organizations. These networks facilitate interdisciplinary learning, innovation, and the dissemination of cutting-edge research findings, ultimately benefiting patient care outcomes on a broader scale.
