Building Shared Mental Models on Shift: VEMS in a Regional Emergency Department

One of the most exciting things about simulation is seeing how clinicians adapt it to their own environments.

Recently, Bridget Honan and her colleagues at a regional hospital have been using SimSimple kits to run short VEMS scenarios with teams already on shift. Rather than waiting for training days, they are using brief drills to rehearse critical resuscitation scenarios during quieter moments in the department.

Working through these cases together allows teams to pause and align on the key questions that matter in resuscitation: who will take the airway, what are we trying to achieve, what equipment is needed, and what complications might arise.

One of the biggest benefits of these sessions is the development of shared mental models. Using the VEMS visuals, the team can map out the patient, equipment, and roles together, making implicit assumptions visible and ensuring everyone is approaching the situation with the same understanding.

These short simulations also help team members learn about each other’s strengths. In emergency care, teams often assemble quickly from clinicians who may not have worked together before. A brief scenario can reveal who has airway expertise, who is comfortable leading, and how the team communicates under pressure.

What Bridget and her team demonstrate is that impactful simulation can happen in the every day. Sometimes the most valuable preparation happens right where the real work takes place — on shift, with the team that will respond when the next critically ill patient arrives.

If you are interested in getting your own SimSimple kit to facilitate everyday training with your teams check out our product here.