Introduction
Simulation is widely applied in multiple segments, including aviation, engineering, and entertainment. However, another area that benefits from the employment of simulation in healthcare. It can be implemented on an educational level as well as in the decision-making and modeling of simple and complex operations. As a result, the risks are minimized, and the main goals of healthcare, including health safety maximization and quality improvement, are effectively addressed. In this paper, the benefits of simulation will be examined from the perspective of the practical use of the technique when it comes to health advancement through effective decision-making techniques.
Cost
An argument against simulation in healthcare can be the increased costs correlating with the employment of the strategy. Nonetheless, research highlights the opposite effect. Namely, researchers have conducted a study examining the cost-effectiveness of various lengths of observation time for patients with anaphylaxis by assessing computer-simulated patients (Shaker et al., 2019). The most cost-effective strategy has been highlighted, which correlates with the argument that simulation can, indeed, reduce medical expenses. Decision-making, while focusing on patient safety, is also to consider the costs of needed medical procedures and treatments. In this care, the industry as a whole benefit from conducting studies on computer-simulated patients to determine the most efficient solution for health problems. The result is the requirement of factual data on the costs linked to various decisions, and based on the results, administrators, doctors, and nurses can address high financial burdens and generate more accessible options. On the other hand, a practical assessment without the use of simulation would result in major economic risks and create financial risks for patients, facilities, and taxpayers as a whole.
Risk-Free Medical Environments
Decision-making is challenging, especially in the healthcare field, as adverse outcomes may arise as a result of poor judgment or a lack of expertise. Nonetheless, simulation mitigates such barriers and facilitates a safer setting for various decisions and subsequent outcomes to be examined. Researchers mention the method as providing healthcare workers with a risk-free environment to exercise their knowledge without facing repercussions (Ayaz & Ismail, 2022). In this case, the risks of adverse results, such as under circumstances when the patient’s health is at risk, are directly addressed through the replacement of a real-life setting with a virtual one. This is especially useful when it comes to decisions that are innovative and are yet to be clinically observed and applied in a practical setting.
Skill Improvement
Decision-making may be influenced by the presence of certain skills or knowledge. As a result, the opportunities are minimized and constrained based on the existing experience and expertise of a healthcare provider, team, or facility. Simulation, on the other hand, allows practitioners to improve based on virtual patients (Kononowicz et al., 2019). As a result, the skill set is under constant advancement, and the decision-making process is not guided by the previously existing barriers. This is another factor that, in turn, links simulation to better patient outcomes.
Conclusion
Simulation in healthcare is a safe and effective method that can be employed to address multiple barriers linked to the decision-making process. On the one hand, the framework addresses potential economic obstacles and allows for the cost aspect of a decision to be examined without the experience of a potential financial burden. On the other hand, healthcare providers are able to exercise their present decision-making abilities in a risk-free environment. Last but not least, simulation facilitates skill and knowledge improvement, which also maximizes decision-making by generating more potential opportunities.
References
Ayaz, O., & Ismail, F. W. (2022). Healthcare simulation: A key to the future of Medical Education – A Review. Advances in Medical Education and Practice, Volume 13, 301–308. Web.
Kononowicz, A. A., Woodham, L. A., Edelbring, S., Stathakarou, N., Davies, D., Saxena, N., Tudor Car, L., Carlstedt-Duke, J., Car, J., & Zary, N. (2019). Virtual patient simulations in Health Professions Education: Systematic Review and meta-analysis by the Digital Health Education Collaboration. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 21(7). Web.
Shaker, M., Wallace, D., Golden, D. B., Oppenheimer, J., & Greenhawt, M. (2019). Simulation of health and economic benefits of extended observation of resolved anaphylaxis. JAMA Network Open, 2(10). Web.