Simulation Applications to Improve Clinical Skills and Outcomes of Practicing Clinicians (Not Trainees) Treating Conditions and Diseases within the Mission of DDDN

May 2023 Council

Lead Division/Office

DDN

Point(s) of Contact

Dana K. Andersen, M.D.

Executive Summary

This funding opportunity announcement (FOA) is to support research to improve clinical skills and clinical outcomes in the management of conditions and diseases within the mission of DDDN through the development and use of simulation applications by practicing clinicians (not trainees). Simulation methods have been widely adopted and shown to improve clinical skills and outcomes in the Graduate Medical Education domain, but few studies have examined their potential benefit to clinical outcomes achieved by practicing providers. Obstacles to simulation use and adoption by practicing providers include logistical, geographic, and methodologic issues. The greatest impediment is the lack of evidence showing a clinical benefit of simulation use by practicing clinicians. This FOA will support studies which explore the effects and benefits of simulation use on clinical safety (morbidity and mortality), outcomes (resolution of the condition or disease) and cost (length of hospital stay, period of disability) of the treatment of diseases and conditions within the mission of DDDN by practicing clinicians. As simulation has its greatest benefit on a reduction of errors, and as medical errors account for much of the cost and poor outcomes of care, the enhanced use of simulation by practicing providers may improve care through reduced medical error occurrence and/or severity.