Translational Simulation

At the ICAPSS, simulation is used not only to educate healthcare professionals, but also to understand and improve the healthcare systems in which they work.

Our Translational Simulation (TS) programmes bring healthcare teams, researchers and service partners together to explore real-world clinical problems in a safe and controlled environment. This approach enables healthcare organisations to learn about how systems actually work in practice, rather than relying solely on how they are expected to work. Findings from simulation can then inform quality improvement, service redesign, education, policy and patient safety initiatives. 

We support local and regional TS projects with our clinical staff and deliver an average of 25+ programmes per year. Examples include: 

• Diagnostic simulation for lumbar puncture contaminated samples
• Quality improvement in the maternity unit
• Diagnosing latent safety threats in a new psychiatry unit
• Implementing bespoke education for acute medical emergencies in psychiatry
• Community outreach programmes targeting specific systems issues (e.g. recruitment, retention, water safety)
• Diagnostic simulation for an integrated care pathway for older persons

We also work with the National Simulation Office to support the design and delivery of TS for improvement and safety. Examples include: 

• Hybrid TS for the National Children’s Hospital in Ireland using TTX and VEMS
• Diagnostic simulation for understanding the complexity of sepsis presenting to the Emergency Department
• Interventional TS to immerse international graduates to the Irish healthcare system