Florida Healthcare Simulation Alliance Affinty Group

03/14/2025

FOBO, or fear of becoming obsolete, is rising as AI reshapes work. Employees who embrace learning, AI, and adaptability will stay relevant and future-proof their careers.

03/13/2025

My name is Melissa Tully, BSN, MHPE, RN-C. I wanted to share my memories of being one of the first few members in the early days of simulation and FHSA. In the early days of healthcare simulation, training for medical professionals looked vastly different than it does today. Educators relied on didactic lectures, skills labs, and sporadic clinical experiences to prepare students for the complexities of patient care. The idea of using high-fidelity simulation to replicate real-world medical scenarios was in its infancy, often met with skepticism or logistical challenges. Equipment was expensive, faculty training was inconsistent, and institutions operated in silos, each struggling independently to implement effective simulation programs.
Florida, with its sprawling healthcare network, innovative state university system and two major simulation companies, recognized early on that collaboration would be key to advancing the field. Enter the Florida Healthcare Simulation Alliance (FHSA)—a grassroots movement that sought to unite simulation educators, healthcare professionals, and industry leaders to share best practices, resources, and a collective vision for the future.
In the beginning, FHSA was a small group of passionate educators, running on funding from a nursing workforce development initiative, meeting in borrowed conference rooms and connecting through informal networks. We shared stories of success and failure, learning from one another in a way that traditional hospital and academic settings did not always allow. There was an energy to these gatherings—a recognition that if we worked together, we could elevate simulation education beyond what any of us could achieve alone. FHSA has grew in both scope and influence. Healthcare institutions across Florida began investing in dedicated simulation centers, equipped with high-fidelity mannequins, virtual reality training, and advanced debriefing technologies. Universities and technical colleges expanded their simulation-based curriculums, recognizing the profound impact of hands-on learning. More importantly, FHSA fostered a spirit of community—one where seasoned simulationists mentored newcomers, industry partners collaborated with educators, and everyone had a seat at the table. Growth did not come without challenges. Funding remained a hurdle, as did the need for faculty training. We supported each other with shared books and experiences in obtaining CHSE and simulation center accreditation pathways from SSH. And, FHSA persevered, advocating for policy changes, securing grants, and developing statewide initiatives to ensure simulation remained at the forefront of healthcare education. Through conferences, webinars, and regional workshops, we continued to expand our reach, drawing national attention on our group for our collaboration.
Today, FHSA is the roots to our current ecosystem. It serves as a bridge between academia and industry, fostering relationships that drive research, improve patient safety, and ensure that Florida remains an innovator in healthcare simulation. Now, FHSA stands as a testament to what can be achieved when passionate professionals come together with a shared mission.
As we look to the future, the need for our ecosystem is far from over. Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and personalized learning analytics promise to revolutionize simulation education once again. We will most certainly need each other to keep advancing patient safety and quality with the current rapid advancements. This Facebook group is a place for those discussions that leverage our connections here.

05/23/2024

This is amazing thinking outside of the box.

"Animal Assisted Interventions have been used therapeutically with positive effects though there is an absence of research on Animal Assisted Interventions in healthcare simulation. This study investigates the efficacy of an Animal Assisted Intervention compared to an intervention control to reduce negative affective arousal post-simulation."

Read the full study by Violato et al at https://www.ijohs.com/article/doi/10.54531/nwjx3272

04/13/2024

"The process of post-event debriefing following immersive simulation is a well-established practice within the healthcare simulation community. Whilst the evidence base grows around the benefits of structured debrief models and in the development of tiered faculty development programmes in developing capacity in simulation-based healthcare education, far less currently exists on ongoing, structured, and embedded approaches in improving and quality assuring debriefing proficiency after the initial training pathway has been delivered."

View the full Short Report on Simulation Innovations Supplement (SRSIS) at https://www.ijohs.com/article/doi/10.54531/ixiz4714

11/25/2023

Im looking for opportunities. Check out the website for more information about the work we do. Https://www.medicalsimulationconsulting.com

Meet for 30 minutes for a free consultation

11/25/2023

"Large language models, most specifically ChatGPT, are stirring debate about the nature of work, knowledge and human relationships with technology. For simulation, ChatGPT may present a solution to help expand the use of simulation by saving time and costs for simulation development."

Check out the full article from the Centre for Advanced Medical Simulation online at:
https://www.ijohs.com/article/doi/10.54531/wjgb5594 #

08/04/2023

"The themes in this study highlight the patterns of talk which occur when there are discussions around patient , and there is evidence within these extracts that patient gender can influence HCP decision-making."


💻 Full article: https://www.ijohs.com/read/article/pdf/55iAJoIBEgXBsCdHepFi #

08/01/2023

04/12/2023

Read a study that underscores the need to engage all relevant health care providers as key to creating successful simulation programs that both meet the needs of the clinician and for patient safety and clinical outcomes. Learn more http://ow.ly/UlPj50Nyg0g

03/28/2023

Meet the IJoHS Editorial Board! 👨🏻‍💻

Ahmed, DO, MHPE, FACEP is a simulationist and educator at Indiana University School of Medicine and MGH Institute of Health Professions. He loves distance and fellowship curriculum development.

07/08/2021

Had a coworker send me this resource. Great canned Peds scenarios for both ER and EMS focuses.

https://www.acepsim.com

07/07/2021

Great team and an awesome program for anyone who is interested.

Nemours is seeking a Medical Simulation Specialist, (Full-Time), to join our team in Orlando, Florida. Located in Orlando, Fla., Nemours Children’s Hospital is the newest addition to the Nemours integrated healthcare system. Our 100-bed pediatric hospital also features the area’s only 24-hour Em...